My four oil paintings for the 2014 Royal Society of Marine Artist Exhibition at the Mall Galleries

Detail from "Puffins on the Farne Islands", Farne Islands, Northumberland. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021436

Detail from "Scudding Clouds - Lands End", Lands End, Cornwall. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021437

Detail from "As the tide comes in - Morston", Morston, Norfolk. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021438

Detail from "Morning - St Ives", St Ives, Cornwall. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021439

Painting selected for the Mall Galleries 2014 "What's On Guide"

A somewhat delayed posting of this due to many other this going on but it was with great pleasure I was told that one of my oil paintings was selected to appear on the front over of the What's On at the Mall Galleries guide for July to December 2014.

The painting is "Sunlit River Blyth at Southwold" and the above just shows a section of it.

Last Call for Marine Artists - RSMA Exhibition 2014 at the Mall Galleries, London

If you missed the online submission deadline, you are not yet lost at sea.

You can still bring your work in on the Receiving Days at the Mall Galleries:
Friday 15 & Saturday 16 August, 10am to 5pm.

The Royal Society of Marine Artists seeks submissions of painting, printmaking and sculpture inspired by sea and the marine environment, including harbours and shorelines, traditional craft and contemporary shipping, creeks, beaches, wildlife - in short anything that involves tidal water.

Acceptable media: Oil, acrylic, watercolour, original prints of any media, drawings, pastels, or sculpture.

Awards and Prizes to be won!

For more information and inspiration visit:
www.rsma-web.co.uk

Please note that this is the last year you will be able to submit work in person, from 2015 all submissions will be done online.

"Water Water Everywhere" exhibition at Lincoln Joyce Fine Art Gallery - starts 4th June - Private View 3rd

Below are some of the other oil paintings that I've put into the exhibition while others can be seen in previous posts.

Detail from "River Wye - Winter", Derbyshire. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021418

Detail from "River Idle - Mid Winter", nr Bawtry, Yorkshire. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021423

Detail from "December morning with frost and snow", nr Caster, Cambridgeshire. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021410

Detail from "Sea fret clearing from Farne Island Needles", Northumberland. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021422

Detail from "The climb up Kinder Scout", Kinder Scout, Derbyshire. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021425

Detail from "Crossing the ford - Lower Slaughter", Lower Slaughter. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021416

Detail from "A lovely warm day", Derbyshire. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021424

Detail from "Grazing beside the River Dove", Derbyshire. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021419

Detail from "Derbyshire Stream in April", nr Unthank, Derbyshire. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021420

Detail from "Upper Wharfedale in Autumn", North Yorkshire. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021421

Detail from "River Welland at Duddington", Duddington, Northamptonshire. Oil.
Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021417

Calling all Marine Artists - RSMA submission opens

The RSMA (Royal Society of Marine Artists) seeks submissions of painting, printmaking and sculpture that depict the sea and the marine environment, including harbours and shorelines, traditional craft and contemporary shipping, creeks, beaches, wildlife - in short anything that involves tidal water.

Acceptable media: Oil, acrylic, watercolour, original prints of any media, drawings, pastels, or sculpture.

Submit your works online now

A selection of Awards and Prizes to be won!

For more information and inspiration visit: www.rsma-web.co.uk

Oil painting - Morston on the North Norfolk coast

Detail from "Rising Water", Morston, Norfolk.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021368

Having waited for the incoming tide, thankfully it was a lovely warm summers day, it was then work as fast as I could to gather the required information. One of the sketches I did for this painting can be seen below (as shown on an previous post).

The rising water helped greatly with this view, remove what had been, up until then, an creek of mud, which itself can be interesting with the correct light and some wetness. It also added some reflections... the downside is that all the boats start moving as soon as they are lifted from the mud and will turn around (if they can) to face the incoming or outgoing tide which means in minutes the view has changed.

The boats hadn't started to move before I finished the above sketch, but a few minutes later the foreground one did and within 10minutes all were afloat. It was a case of working up the background/boats and then waiting for the right time for the water...

Finished oil painting from the Mall Galleries demonstration

Detail from "Dawn on the Norfolk coast", Thornham, Norfolk.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021371
As per the title, here is the finished oil painting that I was working on while demonstrating at this years Royal Society of Marine Artist exhibition at the Mall Galleries.

Most of the work since that day was adding the details to the landing stage, foreground boat, some areas of the water and the creek bank.

RSMA demonstration - part one

Thank you all those that came along to the Mall Galleries on Tuesday (22nd) for the demonstrations by Lorraine Abraham RSMA - working in scraperboard, sadly William Carney was ill, so Alan Runagall stepped in to do some watercolours and myself - working in oils.

I hope you enjoyed meeting the artists and gained something from the day, be it from asking questions or just by watching.

Personally, thank you to all those that passed comment and asked a wide variety of questions. It was a pleasure to meet you and made the day very enjoyable.

Above are the sketches done on location

Above is how the painting was at the close, the above picture was from someone else (thank you). There's still more work to be done, mainly in the foreground (boat, posts, bank etc).

I'll post the finished painting as soon as possible.

Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition 2013 - starts next week at the Mall Galleries, London

16 to 27 October 2013

10am to 5pm (closes 1pm on final day)

After the wind and rain of last year, the summer of 2013 arguably produced the best painting weather for a long time. Marine artists especially welcomed the summer's blue skies, sun drenched vistas and sparkling seas. The results of their endeavours are not to be missed at the Royal Society of Marine Artists 68th annual exhibition at Mall Galleries, London.

The Society was founded in 1939 and is widely recognised for being the focal point for much of Britain's finest marine art, and currently has a membership of 55.

The Society's common theme is the sea, and whilst most RSMA Members work covers a variety of subjects, paintings submitted for the Society's exhibitions must be related to tidal waters in some way. Traditions such as plein-air, topographical, historical, still life, and figure painting are all welcomed.

Admission £3, £2.50 concessions, Free to FBA Friends , RSMA Friends, National Art Pass and under 18s

All works for sale and some are available to Browse & Buy online now.

Find out more at: www.mallgalleries.org.uk

Part of the RSMA Exhibition now showing online and list of RSMA members demonstrations during the show

Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition 2013

With just over a week to go before the RSMA exhibition at the Mall Galleries to go... some of the paintings in the show can be seen here http://mallgalleries-shows.com/.

You can purchase paintings by calling the gallery if you see something you like.
Please note this page is has lots of images and can take sometime to load if you have a slow connection.

Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition 2013 Painting Demonstrations

RSMA members will be working in the gallery. Do come along and chat to them, pick up hints and tips on techniques and watch them at work.

Mall Galleries info

Wednesday 16 October from 11.00am
David Howell PRSMA – working in watercolour

Saturday 19 October from 11.00am
Barry Peckham ARSMA – working in oils

Tuesday 22 October from 11.00am
Alistair Butt RSMA – working in oils
William Carney RSMA – working in oils
Lorraine Abraham RSMA – working in scraperboard

Thursday 24 October from 11.00am
Geoff Hunt PPRSMA – working in oils

Saturday 26 October from 2.00pm
Keith Noble RSMA – working in watercolour
Martin Swan RSMA - working in oils
Rowena Wright RSMA - working in oils

Please note: there are two changes from previous RSMA newsletters and catalogues... Alistair Butt RSMA is doing oil and not watercolour and Keith Noble RSMA is doing watercolour and not oil. 

Oil painting of boats at Brancaster Staithe on the North Norfolk coast

Detail from "Tides going out", Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021363

The water level was dropping fast as the tide went out, which in this case was a great help as it exposed more and more of the mud which being wet was reflecting the sunlight. I also liked the contrast between the simple foreground and the more detailed middle distance along with the contrast in light.

A mentioned before, all the water/mud area was done wet into wet over a loose base layer, while the background was built up with a number of layers or painted straight on. While it takes more time to paint, I find it a joy trying to capture the detail in a subject like this.

Two oil paintings - Oxfordshire river and Norfolk coast

Detail from "After the rain", nr Burford, Oxfordshire.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021356

The above view is on the same river as 'Swans on the River Windrush' (posted a few post before) but a mile or so away - closer to Burford, Oxfordshire. The heavy rain had swollen the river, almost to the top of the banks, a complete change to some years in summer when it can be difficult to see the water at all, due to the bank vegetation and lower water level.

On the day, it was late evening with a hint of colour on the clouds in the sky and just enough light catching the grass and trees. Within 10 minutes all had changed with the sun going behind the cloud and then sinking below the hill on the left.

Detail from "Low tide at Morston", Morston, Norfolk.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021357

At Morston, like many of the North Norfolk coast line when the tide is out banks of wet mud are exposed. The contrast between high and low tide and how that one things changes the view really comes into play in locations like this.

On this day, the light at this time was somewhat unusual, although bright, hence the highlights on the mud and last of the water, the rest of the sky had thin high cloud with some distant cloud forming which gave an overcast feel.

I really liked this view of the creek with the boats and wet mud looking towards Blakeney, the church and some of the village can bee seen in the distance. A few hours later as the tide filled the creek there was a mad rush of boats, some for the seal trips, others going fishing and a few sailing boats heading towards the sea.

Oil painting of boats at Alnmouth, Northumberland

Detail from "Summer afternoon at Alnmouth", Alnmouth, Northumberland.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021355

This delightful view is from the middle of the tidal mud flats on the River Aln just before it meets the North Sea at Alnmouth, Northumberland.

A number of fishing and sailing boats were lying on the mud, a bit tricky in places but with care most areas were passable away from the main channel which is behind the boats. It was late afternoon and the sun moved to the correct angle to provide the highlights on the wet mud, in some spots too bright to really see, so it was a case of moving around until a good spot was found.

I really liked the additional pools of water: 1. as a good lead into the painting and 2. to break up what would then be just wet mud (which as present when drawing another view of the far distant boats), so I wanted to include those even though it required a little be more work.

The background was quite simple with a nice hazy feel to it... the main East Coast railway line goes across the view, it's the straight line three quarters of the way up the background hill

Banburgh Castle Oil Painting

Detail from "Majestic Banburgh", Banburgh, Northumberland.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021352

The reference for this came from my last trip to Northumberland. It was early afternoon on a warm and windless day, the tide had just passed high water for that day... it was then find the spot, or spots, to gather the reference material needed. On the previous visits during the trip I'd gained some good material from locations closer to the castle (hopefully to be painted soon) so I was partly looking for something different - hence this view which shows some of the beach, rocks and sand dunes that line this part of the coast.

Next group of oil paintings started

Below are some of the next group of oils paintings started - early base layer has been applied to all of these...

All being well, a step-by-step demonstration of this stream and snow covered trees and banks coming soon...

The latest two oil paintings - Minehead, Somerset and Thornham, Norfolk

After having had a good few days of hot and sunny weather (temperature records broken in parts of the country), things changed with two days of intense thunder and lighting - some rumbles of thunder and lighting flashes going on for minutes - along with periods of very heavy rain. Thankfully all is quite at the moment...

Below are the latest oil paintings...

 Detail from "On the beach - Minehead", Minehead, Somerset.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021349

A warm summer afternoon, strangely not many people on the beach but I really liked the contrast between the foreground (simple light coloured sand with colourful notes) and the background (dark wood covered headland dotted with buildings). Part of the town of Minehead can be seen in the distance with the small harbour to the right hand side of the painting.

Detail from "Hazy Afternoon at Thornham", Thornham, Norfolk.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021348

A hazy but bright light provided the atmosphere for this afternoon view of two small boats moored in the small tidal creek at Thornham, North Norfolk coast. While it was low tide on this visit, on some high tides, most of the land below the background trees is under water - something to be aware of if you plan on leaving the car for a few hours...

Oil painting of boats at Southwold, Suffolk

Detail from "Sunlit River Blyth at Southwold", Southwold, Suffolk.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021347

The River Blyth, meets the North Sea just to the south of Southwold (Suffolk coast) and is tidal. The local fishermen have used these landing stages for years, selling their catch at the huts that line part of the Southwold side of the river. The long ropes hold the craft in position as the water level rises and falls - when I was on location it was falling hence the wet mud in the foreground. Further upstream on the Southwold side are some boat repair yards which cater for the sailing boats on both the Walberswick and Southwold side. A ferry takes people across the river or a bridge upstream allows access to both sides - a nice walk with ample subjects on route...

For those that want to sample the location via Google maps visit here (links to Google Maps - new page) and type (or copy) in IP18 6ND and press return, then move the orange figure onto the road alongside the river before moving around...

As is the case for many of my paintings it was the light that attracted me... it was then a case of finding the best position for a good composition and getting the reference material needed.

Oil Painting of fishing boat being launched at Aldeburgh, Suffolk

Detail from "Morning Launch", Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021346

My first visit to Aldeburgh was back in 1984. Back then there were more of these wooden fishing boats on the beach, sadly the numbers have declined with the passing of time but a number of boats (old and new) still supply the fish huts that line the beach road.

This fisherman was single-handed launching this boat... the rope that can be seen going out from both the bow and stern passes a winch motor (the yellow circle) which slowly moved the boat into the sea - this allowed me the time (as always longer would have helped) I needed. The fisherman mean while was collecting the plastic runners (used to be wood) that the boat slides one. The beach is mostly shingle but at low tide more sand is exposed.

Oil painting of Cornish Cliffs below Tintagel Castle

Detail from "North Cornwall Cliffs", Tintagel, Cornwall.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021345

This painting shows just part of the cliffs below Tintagel Castle, the reputed birth place of King Arthur.

For more information about the castle which is now run by English Heritage click here. Scroll down the page shows a box with 'gallery' images... the fourth one shows the cliffs and part of the castle but viewed from an slightly different angle (to the right)

More Marine Oil Paintings started

Some of the next group of marine paintings started - the above shows four of them with the line work done...

Above, the same four but now with the under painting done and ready for the further work.