Oil painting of the Langdale Pikes from Elterwater

Detail from "Spring evening looking towards the Langdale Pikes", nr Elterwater, Cumbria.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 -
#AB 021338

Having spent a few days (before dawn to dusk) looking for reference material this was the final location on this day as the Langdale Pikes (the distant range) were bathed in a wonderful evening light - sadly the wonderful clear sky and wind free day was changing fast as can be seen with the band of cloud and wind moving the water surface of the River Brathay.

Being early spring there wasn't much leaf on the trees, which in this case provided a more opened view - not that this superb location needs any help improving...

Oil painting of the Deepdale, Patterdale, Cumbria

Detail from "Deepdale on a bright sunny afternoon", Deepdale, Cumbria.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 -
#AB 021337

This painting is in contrast to my last visit to this area - see this previous post (opens in a new window) when it was a lot colder and snow covering some of the ground - the third and fourth images are just a bit further down the valley bit show how a location can change with the seasons.

Apart from the attractive mountains which create the background to this painting, of which Fairford is the best known (to the right of top center), what I really liked about this view was the clear Deepdale Beck as it curved away into the distance. The scattered highlights on the water surface added sparkle - something that I just love to paint - while either side a variety of different coloured grass and vegetation add more interest.

Latest Oil Painting - Snow covered Borrowdale, Cumbria

Detail from "Late Snow - Borrowdale", Borrowdale, Cumbria.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 -
#AB 021336

The reference for this was gathered on my last trip up to the Lake District. Being a somewhat strange winter/spring regarding the weather, heavy snow in spring just added to that. The river is the River Derwent (there's three in the UK with the same name but located in different areas) and had less water in that I'd hoped - I was standing on one of the beds of pebbles that move about with each bout of heavy rain.



Gathering reference material for paintings... a few hours in the woods



As can be seen in the two pictures above it's bluebell time in some of the woods. This wood is in Derbyshire and this year they really have put on a special display. I've not seen so dense a covering and really the images can't do them justice.

The morning sun created some wonderful sunlit/shadow patterns as I moved around... looking for the ideal view - not always easy as there's always likely to be some odd tree that doesn't look right, a fallen tree or stump that looks out of place or the sunlight isn't on a patch as it's blocked by other trees. Bring on artists license...

Overall an interesting and worth while five hours, bar the time waiting for the odd cloud to move away from in front of the sun.

Mall Galleries - Summer Workshops - Mon 12 - Thu 22 August 2013, 10am - 4pm

FBA artists are sharing their expertise in a series of hands-on workshops this August. Taking place in and around Mall Galleries, join us to perfect your portrait painting, draw dancers or learn the techniques of mono-printing or painting in egg tempura.

Tickets: £60 /£55 concessions /£45 FBA Friends per workshop.

Book your place: info@mallgalleries.com


Bring your own art materials and a packed lunch.

________________________________________________________________________________

Monday 12 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Paul Banning RI RSMA
Watercolour workshop
Pure watercolour workshop with 'plein air' painter Paul Banning. Paul specialises in painting plein air whenever possible. If weather permits we will work in St James's Park looking for interesting subject matter using sketch books, and then developing the work in the Gallery. He has considerable expertise in colour mixing and making full use of this difficult medium of watercolour. He has travelled to many parts of the world painting as well as in the UK, and paints regularly during the summer months along the River Thames. 

Monday 12 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Nick Tidnam RBA
Relationship of Figures in the Landscape
Working with the figure gives the opportunity to observe people involved in various activities both inside and out, at work or play, in parks, markets and squares; they all produce wonderful patterns, shapes, colours and textures that can give life to a painting. One only has to look at the great painters of the past to see how important the placing of figures were to the compositions they created and how they reflected the mood and style of the day. The day will give you the opportunity to explore, discover, develop, rethink and have fun. Hopefully the weather will be good and we can use Trafalgar Square and Green Park but if it's inclement we'll use the National Gallery.

Tuesday 13 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Tom Coates RP PPPS PPRBA PPNEAC
Figure Portraits in all mediums
Coates has taught at various art schools while still devoting much of his time to full-time painting. He is Past President of the New English Art Club, the Royal Society of British Artists and the Pastel Society and is a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. He has carried out a series of prestigious commissions including in 1990 to paint the Ceremonial Procession celebrating The Queen Mother’s 90th birthday.

Tuesday 13 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Roger Dellar RI PS ROI
Figure Portrait in oil
Roger is a professional figurative artist who works in oils, pastels, mixed media, acrylics, and water based media. He has a keen interest in people and their behaviour, and is fascinated by the way the play of light transforms a subject; either working in the studio or plein air. As a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and experienced art tutor, this promises to be an informative day.
Wednesday 14 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm

Tom Coates RP PPPS PPRBA PPNEAC
Figure Portraits in all mediums
Coates has taught at various art schools while still devoting much of his time to full-time painting. He is Past President of the New English Art Club, the Royal Society of British Artists and the Pastel Society and is a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. He has carried out a series of prestigious commissions including in 1990 to paint the Ceremonial Procession celebrating The Queen Mother’s 90th birthday.
Thursday 15 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm

Tim Benson ROI
Portrait Painting in oil
As a practised figurative artist Tim not only creates a distinguishable likeness of a subject but, moreover evokes the sitter’s character and mood. He is never satisfied with simple representation, rather concentrating on bringing to his work an emotive and often visceral quality. A member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Tim’s workshop will focus on the use of oil paint in portraiture, followed by critique and discussion.
Monday 19 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm

Paul Banning RI RSMA
Watercolour workshop
Pure watercolour workshop with 'plein air' painter Paul Banning. Paul specialises in painting plein air whenever possible. If weather permits we will work in St James's Park looking for interesting subject matter using sketch books, and then developing the work in the Gallery. He has considerable expertise in colour mixing and making full use of this difficult medium of watercolour. He has travelled to many parts of the world painting as well as in the UK, and paints regularly during the summer months along the River Thames.

Monday 19 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Melissa Scott Miller RP NEAC
Portrait of London Buildings in the Park
Growing up among the tall red brick mansion blocks of Kensington, Melissa Scott-Miller was an enthusiast for London’s streetscapes from an early age. She has made the urban landscape her specialty, choosing metre-square canvases to record the rich detail of the city. Join her for a day of sketching and painting the buildings around St James’ Park and Mall Galleries, followed by critique and discussion.

Monday 19 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Julie Jackson NEAC
Dancer, inspired by Matisse
Join New English Arts Club member, Julie, for a workshop taking its cue from Matisse’s colourful images of dancers. A live performer will dance during the workshop to provide inspiration, followed by critique and discussion.

Tuesday 20 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Robin-Lee Hall RP
Still Life in Egg Tempura
Robin-Lee is an award-winning artist who works almost exclusively in egg tempera. It is a highly labour intensive and exacting medium where the paint is made from egg yolk and powdered pigment and built up over many layers to create a wonderful luminosity and depth that is quite unique. All her paintings are suffused with colour inspired by the early Renaissance paintings in the National Gallery where she conducts workshops and lectures.

Tuesday 20 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
David Howell PRSMA
Watercolours in the Park
David is the current President of the Royal Society of Marine Artists and his tutoring weeks at places like Dedham Hall are invariably booked up months before the date.  David is well known for his work in watercolour and has recently completed a video for APV Films on the subject. David's approach to painting is very about capturing atmosphere and a sense of time and place but above all he is concerned with producing good paintings rather than topographical accuracy.  He works outside as much as possible and the plan for this day would be to paint in or around St. James’s Park and to talk about composition and the whole process of making paintings work. 
If the weather doesn’t co-operate then the plan will be to produce rapid sketches outside and paint in the gallery. Join David for what should be a enjoyable and instructive day watercolour painting in the landscape (or cityscape) of St James’ Park and later in the afternoon a return to the gallery for a group discussion and critique.

Tuesday 20 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Chris Forsey RI
Landscape in Mixed Media
Chris combines watercolour and acrylic paint, oil pastel and acrylic ink in his creative landscape painting, exploring the themes of man-made alongside the organic, in the form of buildings by water or structure emerging from a dramatic background. He endeavours to capture the mood and atmosphere of weather, light and season, and sometimes includes figures to inhabit the middle ground between buildings and the wildness of nature.

Wednesday 21 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Bruce Pearson SWLA
An Introduction to Mono-printing
Bruce works as often as the opportunities arises out in the wild where wildlife and landscape, and sometimes people, interact creating powerful images and dramatic themes. It is the rhythm and restlessness of the natural world which fascinates, and which he tries to capture. A mono-print combines printmaking, drawing and painting techniques and allows the artist unusual freedom and spontaneity. On a flat plastic surface rolled with ink a single image is developed by all sorts of interesting mark-making techniques before an impression is taken by hand-pressing paper on to the worked plate surface.

Wednesday 21 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Eiko Yoshomota PS
Image and Imagination
Eiko was born in Okayama shortly before the Second World War. She studied English literature and drama at the Notre Dame Sacred Heart School. Her career as an artist, however, was not launched until after the birth of her son. When he was six, she began to illustrate a children's book for him using pastels and has not stopped creating art since.
Join Eiko for a day of image making, working from cuttings and images provided, or bring in your own photographs and images to work with. The workshop will start with 10 minutes of all important body and wrist exercise.

Wednesday 21 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
John Yardley RI
Watercolour class
John is renowned for his outstanding ability to capture the vitality of a scene with a few well-placed brush strokes, his particular skill lies in drawing the eye into a composition by painting a passage of bright colour among muted tones, or conveying movement with a confident sweep of paint. For this watercolour workshop, John will provide photographs of various images, or participants can bring their own, to paint from and he will critique as you paint.

Thursday 22 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Judith Gardner RBA NEAC
Sketching and Painting in St James’s Park
Judith’s painting is representational and begins with an idea based on strong observation. Once the composition has been decided upon, the reality is not so essential in order for her to develop the painting. Join her in St James’s Park to find out how to create light and atmosphere with tone, colour and brushwork, followed by critique and discussion.

Thursday 22 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm
Andrew James RP
Masterclass in Portrait Painting in Oil
A level of competence in the subject is required for this workshop with Royal Society of Portrait Painters Vice President, Andrew James, to help improve your portrait painting in oils. The day will include tuition, discussion and critique.

Calling all Wildlife Artists... Mall Galleries Online registration now open

THE NATURAL EYE: SOCIETY OF WILDLIFE ARTISTS ANNUAL EXHIBITION
 
Conditions
Maximum of six works to be submitted. Maximum of six works will be selected. Work must have been completed within the last two years.

Any work depicting wildlife subjects is admissible. The committee will also consider work that evokes the spirit of the natural world. Botanical subjects and domestic animals are NOT admissible.

Acceptable media: Work may be in any medium including sculpture and original prints (please detail edition and how many are available). With larger and/or heavier sculptures, paintings and works exceeding 2.4m (8ft) it may not be possible to receive the work itself, please ring the Exhibitions Officer for advice and permission to submit images instead. Work exhibited previously in a London gallery is not admissible.
All works must be for sale. Minimum price: £300, unframed prints: £120.

REGISTER ONLINE

Online Submission opens
Thursday 16 May (noon)

Submission Deadline
Thursday 15 August (noon)

Notification of pre-selection posted on the registration site from:
Thursday 22 August (noon)
(If pre-selected, please deliver your work(s) on the receiving days listed below).

Receiving Days
Sunday 15 & Monday 16 September, 10am-5pm
Select this link for information on regional handing-in points.

Notification of selection to the exhibition
Thursday 19 September (noon)

Collection of unaccepted work
Saturday 21 & Wednesday 25 September, 10am-5pm

Collection of unsold exhibition work
Thursday 14 November, 10am-5pm

Exhibition dates 2013
Private View: Wednesday 30 October, 2-8pm
Opens to public: Thursday 31 October 10am-5pm
Closes: Sunday 10 November, 1pm


Download the Registration Pack

Oil painting of Ullswater, Cumbria

Detail from "Bright Spell - Ullswater", Ullswater, Cumbria.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 -
#AB 021335

This was one of those just being in the right place at the right time. The low cloud/fog broke for just long enough for the sun to light this small headland on the banks of Ullswater and hence provide me a really interesting subject.

What really caught my eye was the sparkles of light on the water plus the sunlit vegetation/trees on the headland and how that contrasted with the soft misty fells on the far bank of Ullswater.

Lancaster Bomber flies over studio...

Due to having no connection over the last few days, this post is a day late but yesterdays work was interrupted for a short while as a Lancaster Bomber passed directly over the studio. I've been lucky to have seen this aircraft a number of times but that's been elsewhere in the country while on my travels.

A great sight and sound but all to short.

The Lancaster Bomber was on route to the Derwent reservoir in Derbyshire for a flypast to mark the 70th anniversary of the World War II raid.

More details can be seen on this BBC news page which also has a short video of the aircraft flying over the dam plus a Spitfire and aircraft from 617 Squadron.

The finished large oil painting of Millbeck, Stickle Ghyll and Harrison Stickle in Great Langdale, Cumbria

Detail from "Millbeck, Stickle Ghyll and Harrison Stickle", Great Langdale, Cumbria.
Oil on Linen Canvas. Alistair Butt © 2013 -
#AB 021334

This view is better when the trees are without much leaf as it provides a much wider perspective of this section of what is a wonderful dale - ideally named Great Langdale.

The farm shown in this oil painting is a 250 acre working hill farm owned by the National Trust and dates back to 1621 but what really appeals is its location surrounded by mountains. Stickle Tarn (not seen, but it's just below the upper right hand mountain) provides the water for Stickle Ghyll which can be seen coming down at about the 45 degree angle above the farm (just above the sunlit bracken) and then behind the farm to the follow the farm track to the left.

The footpath follows the ghyll up to Stickle Tarn and then around that to Pavey Ark, the upper edge of which can be seen on the right hand. Harrison Stickle, the large background mountain, is part of the Langdale Pikes, the rest are to the right of it.

For those that wish to see this view... visit Google maps the link should hopefully open the map in the UK. If not move to the UK. Then paste 'Ambleside LA22 9JX, United Kingdom' into the search box. Zoom in. Select the orange man (just above the size bar on left hand side) and drag him to the position shown in the picture below.

 Copyright: Google Maps

For those that haven't visited Google Maps before so:
You may need to scroll around (click, hold left mouse button down and drag) to get the correct view. For those with time on their side it worth exploring the area. This can be done by clicking on the white forward/backward arrows or to move faster, exit street view (click 'x' - top right corner of image area) which takes you back to the aerial view and then repeat selection of orange man and place him on the blue line (a road that the Google car has visited) - the blue squares are pictures.

Large oil painting - part finished


The above shows just a small section of a large oil painting that's being worked on at the moment. Some parts in the above picture e.g. the post in the foreground, still need to have work done to them.

The rest of the painting will be shown in a later post...

Spring is here...


This was from yesterdays trip up and down the country. Having delivered paintings for the next exhibition it was then time to look for possible new subjects and locations...

As can be seen in this view of a stream near Northampton, signs of spring growth are all around, the swans were on the field to the right... with four more landing while I was working plus the odd swallow few past. Although for most of the day it had been overcast, a bit of luck and persistence paid off as the clouds broke to give some late afternoon, into evening sunlight.