This is still unfinished but I’ve done all I can for today. The painting is still in dialogue with me!

Here’s today’s painting well underway. I decided to make an oil painting of a detail from the large oil pastel that I recently shared on this blog. I’ve  been really missing the sea as I’ve mentioned and it really helps evoke special places like this if I explore them again through my painting. The camber on the stone pavement that forms part of the surface of this iconic structure fascinated me. I can feel it still as I paint it. The sense of unease and exposure was unforgettable. I’ve really been enjoying working in oils again recently. The way the brush fights back is addictive.

Here’s the original sketch made on the spot that inspired today’s work. I hold the sketch in one hand as I draw. I taped the A1 paper to the wall and work standing up, so I have as much freedom as possible to make my marks and stand back.

Here’s a drawing I made today based on a sketch made ‘plein air’ at Lyme on the Cobb one very blustery day at Christmas, many years ago. I can time-travel through my work ,and feel the place and space where the inspiration came from. I’ll share a detail and sketch next. I’m missing the sea ridiculously just now, and felt the need to revisit the Lyme sketch work. I seem to be closing the Medea chapter and new oceans beckon.

Here are some light toned gestural marks on top of the dark shadows of the trees. I never use black but mix opposites or use earth colours. A brush and palette knife was used for this.

Here’s some of the brushwork from ‘The Circle Is Unbroken’, my current oil painting from the Medea series. I want to keep ther crimson and gestural brushwork. It’s knowing what to retain and what to rework or bring forward. I think about painting a lot of the time. Painting doesn’t just happen when you’re physically making the marks ,but when you’re on a walk or in the shower… It’s always with you until you know instinctivley when to stop.

Here’s a detail of one of my French paintings to show the influence on my current oil painting.