Passion For Art

Painted many many years ago

Called - Fishes

Acylics On Board

Around each corner I see a painting, all colours hold multitude of shades, every face is a portrait, each window a framed masterpiece.. I see beauty in everything but most of all I am inspired by you, Thank you for sharing my passion!

The Mumbles Lighthouse

Rough Sketch

First Layer of Paint

Finished Painting

Acrylics on Canvas about A4 in size

Step by Step process of painting of the Mumbles Bay & Pier

Sketching rough outline

First layer of paint goes on - I use liqutex heavy body

Second layer of paint goes on

lights go in...

More detail going in..

Finished Painting..

Acrylics on Canvas

Painting on The Beach

Pembrey Beach, In the Dunes

Here is South Wales we are blessed with beautiful beaches
None more then Pembrey, I have to make regular visits to Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and
so it is a treat for both me and Jodie dog that we get to go to the beach either before or after
The Country is experiencing an unusual warm March with Temperatures over 20 oC
So it was lovely to sit in the dunes and paint.

However since the last time I took my paints on to the beach I got sand in my palette I took
Watercolour pencils and found my restriction of colours restricted my painting.

Shells on the beach...

The Dunes

Carreg Cennen In the Mist

Seldom does a area inspire so much imagination and inspiration in me but Carreg Cennen
my nearest and one of my most favourite castles is everything you need in a ruined Castle
Caves to explore deep into the rock crag, dungeons, tunnels, dramatic views
Cennen boast them all..

I have painted it so many times, this time I have used mixed media to create this
deep misty piece with layers of paint which hold depth
Sadly because of the complex nature of this piece the camera can not capture it
best viewed with the naked eye!

See:

http://www.carregcennencastle.com/

and

http://www.castlewales.com/carreg.html

Whiteford Point Lighthouse - Gower

Whiteford Point Lighthouse is located off the coast
at Whiteford Point near Whiteford Sands,
on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales.

The Lighthouse

The rocky ledge runs far into the sea,
and on its outer point, some miles away,
the lighthouse lifts its massive masonry,
A pillar of fire by night, of cloud by day.

Even at this distance I can see the tides,
Upheaving, break unheard along its base,
A speechless wrath, that rises and subsides
in the white tip and tremor of the face.

And as the evening darkens, lo! how bright,
through the deep purple of the twilight air,
Beams forth the sudden radiance of its light,
with strange, unearthly splendor in the glare!

No one alone: from each projecting cape
And perilous reef along the ocean’s verge,
Starts into life a dim, gigantic shape,
Holding its lantern o’er the restless surge.

Like the great giant Christopher it stands
Upon the brink of the tempestuous wave,
Wading far out among the rocks and sands,
The night o’er taken mariner to save.

And the great ships sail outward and return
Bending and bowing o’er the billowy swells,
And ever joyful, as they see it burn
They wave their silent welcome and farewells.

They come forth from the darkness, and their sails
Gleam for a moment only in the blaze,
And eager faces, as the light unveils
Gaze at the tower, and vanish while they gaze.

The mariner remembers when a child,
on his first voyage, he saw it fade and sink
And when returning from adventures wild,
He saw it rise again o’er ocean’s brink.

Steadfast, serene, immovable, the same,
Year after year, through all the silent night
Burns on forevermore that quenchless flame,
Shines on that inextinguishable light!

It sees the ocean to its bosom clasp
The rocks and sea-sand with the kiss of peace:
It sees the wild winds lift it in their grasp,
And hold it up, and shake it like a fleece.

The startled waves leap over it; the storm
Smites it with all the scourges of the rain,
And steadily against its solid form
press the great shoulders of the hurricane.

The sea-bird wheeling round it, with the din
of wings and winds and solitary cries,
Blinded and maddened by the light within,
Dashes himself against the glare, and dies.

A new Prometheus, chained upon the rock,
Still grasping in his hand the fire of love,
it does not hear the cry, nor heed the shock,
but hails the mariner with words of love.

“Sail on!” it says: “sail on, ye stately ships!”
And with your floating bridge the ocean span;
Be mine to guard this light from all eclipse.
Be yours to bring man nearer unto man.

··· Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ···

Mumbles Pier at Dusk..

Painting In Acrylics on Canvas

I enjoyed painting this so much just letting my mind drift

enjoying the sweeps of colour..

The pier is such a lovley place to visit and the mumbles is just totally enchanting!

See:

www.mumbles-pier.co.uk

Early Spring Blossom

First Layer

Finished Painting

On the second layer I used salting, the painted the tree adding the blossom

Painted in Watercolours on 180 lb paper, it's quite a large piece.
I love spring blossom, just those small green shoots poking through and the tiny tips of white
showing there faces.

It's a hint that warmer weather is on it's way..........

Terrance Turtle - Sunday Afternoon Swim!

I have resisted the tempation to paint a sea turtle for so long, more so as it's a popular subject but the colours appeal to me

so when a friend gave me a photo of a seaturtle and said ' I saw this and thought of you'
I couldn't resist any more. I had sourced the canvas as I wanted to paint it in Acrylics and on a larger size,
No gridding, only freehand this time, I didn't want to tie my self in just relax and paint!

First Coat... The turtle actually took about 12 layers before I was happy!

Close up of Terrance

Finished painting, the camera didn't pick it up so well..

I like this face the most!

------------------------ Stop Press ----------------------

I kept looking at the painting.. not happy so I have painted out the fishes and now the painting looks
like this and I am much happier about it!!

Elan Valley

It was a few years back that my father in law took us out on a day trip to Elan valley in
Mid-Wales, I had never seen a reservoir before and was totally awestruck by

there sheer size, it's been my goal since to go back and explore more!

However it's only now that I have been able to paint from my reference images

Watercolours on 180 lb paper.

See:

http://www.elanvalley.org.uk/dams-reservoirs/photos-of-dams/craig-goch/

Blue In Venice

I Just adore Venice I have only been there once on a cheap 3 days get away, I know how to travel on a shoe string
it usually involves hostels and not really eating for a few days but it's all do able!
When I went I took almost 400 photos and now when I want to revisit I look through my photos and paint a scene
it's not long before I drift away with the sights, smells, general hustle and bustle.

I would love to go back but there are so many other places to visit..

Here are two paintings I did in 2011, sadly sold to different homes.

Oriental Trading

Oriental Trading

This painting was framed and given to a friend, painted with Acrylics on board
I wanted to paint something with a dramatic sky, I think I achieved that!

I have never painted Junk boats before or since but I did enjoy painting this one!
(and I friend adores it!)

Puffins

We live very close to Skomer Island and I have always wanted to see the Puffins my sister too adores them so for her present two years ago I painted her this from a reference image, she adored it.. and I enjoyed painting it!

Skomer is totally worth the effort to get there....

What to see:

• Puffins (6,000 pairs)
• Manx Shearwaters (120,000 pairs)
• Guillemots (10,000 pairs)
• Razorbills
• Choughs
• Short Eared Owls
• Skomer Voles
• Grey Seals

How to get there:
The Dale Princess runs from Martin's Haven between Good Friday or 1st April (whichever is earlier) and 31st October. It runs Tuesdays to Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays and leaves from Martin's Haven at 10am, 11am and 12 noon and has return sailings from 3pm onwards. Sailings may be disrupted by the weather - check by calling Lockley Lodge, an information point and gift shop run by the Wildlife Trust (01646 636800) or Dale Sailing (01646 603110).

There is a maximum daily quota for landing visitors. If you arrive too late, you may have to resort to a round island boat trip. At weekends between May and early July, queues can be lengthy. As well as the boat fare of £10 for adults and £7 for children, there's a landing charge of £8 for adults, £7 for OAPs, £4 for students and children are free (2011 charges). There are no refreshments available on the island, but there is a toilet at the old farm.

Lady Amandis

Acrylic on Box Canvas

I have been wanting to paint roses forever but it's there delicate petals and shades that have always worried me

I like this one but I will be painting some more roses in time, especially looking forward to doing some in Watercolours



Prickly Pears In Watercolours

Prickly Pears - Watercolours

I have been wanting to paint prickle pears for ages not because of the cactus shapes and colours but because of the colour beauty in the fruit, I love the shades of Lime green into cadmium orange, bright red into deep purples.

I have admired these fruits from a child having fond memories of picking and eating them in Malta

Not many people like them but I adore them!

These are many varieties of Prickle pear ( Latin name Opuntia)
In Malta  they make a pink herbal Liqueur called Bajtra

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Happus ..Happy Saint Davids Day

Beautiful day here in Wales this Saint Davids Day, all the children dressed in their traditional welsh costumes a delight to see also makes you broody!
Early daffodils are out and with the early warmth we have this past week, the daffodils opened up and waves in the gentle spring breeze and shone brightly against the blue skies.

I plan to paint some loose daffodils in watercolours over the next few weeks, my mind is in spring mode now!