Early Morning with the sheep - oil painting

Detail from "Hazy and bright morning with the sheep", nr Duddington, Northamptonshire.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2013 - #AB 021358

This was one of those being in the 'right place at the right time' moments... something that no amount of 'going looking for' will ever come up with.

My usual path when visiting this location is down by the trees, alongside the river - hence the mist/haze, but this morning the sheep which are usually in the larger section of this field (to the right) were just moving that way. I positioned myself alongside a tree as they slowly moved pass, the slow movement, grazing and suckling help as this aided the gathering of reference.

The morning light helped greatly with this painting, catching the edges of the sheep and tops of the grass... along with the haze distant and slight misty feel as the warmth of the sun got to work on the damp grass (some bits of frost in places) - overall not a bad start to the day.

'Still Alive' at the Mall Galleries

An exhibition of contemporary still life paintings by members of the Federation of British Artists

Join us for the Private View on Tuesday 17 September, 6-8pm

Exhibition open:
16 to 21 September, 10am to 5pm
Admission FREE

Mall Galleries presents an eclectic selection of still lifes, ranging from the realist to the abstract, all of which utilise form and texture, colour and tone, to convey the extraordinary essence of everyday objects.

Still Alive is proof aplenty that the still life genre is as alive and well in the twenty-first century as it ever has been.

Artists include:
Angela A'Court PS
Chris Aggs RBA
Glenys Ambrus PS
Lillias August RI
Richard Bawden NEAC
Jason Bowyer NEAC PS RP
Tessa Coleman NEAC
Jeremy Galton RBA
Paul Gildea NEAC
Ann Heat RBA
Julie Held NEAC
Andy James RP
Pamela Kay NEAC RBA
Lucy McKie ROI
Arthur Neal NEAC
Barbara Richardson RBA
Nick Tidnam RBA
Matt Underwood SWLA
Annie Williams RBA

Perhaps the enduring appeal of the genre owes to the fact that, to quote Professor Anthony Savile, King’s College London: “through [still life] pictures... we find in our everyday domestic surroundings a delicacy and tenderness that we would otherwise quite miss.” A specially commissioned essay by Professor Savile will accompany the exhibition.

All works for sale and available to browse and buy online.

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

Last weekend at the Chatsworth Country Fair

While doing other things I had a few minutes to gather some pictures while at the Chatsworth Country Fair. This is held every year in the grounds just below Chatsworth House, Derbyshire.

Being a country fair, most of the stalls, displays, events are country related but other attractions like vintage fairground and the Red Arrows add to the visitor appeal... of which thousands visited over the three days. More information can be seen on the above link to the Chatsworth Country fair site.

Having just opened, early visitors pass the front of Chatsworth House. Part of the house is still covered while the work on redoing the windows continues - returning them to the original gold coloured window frames.

As well as period cars, a good collection of military related vehicles. 

Just one of the tents holding many of the stalls - selling things from crafts, to wood fires, solar panels to outdoor clothing. The background hill held the clay pigeon shooting, to the left was the archery and behind on the River Derwent (one of three so named in the UK) fly fishing all of which you could have a go at, in exchange for some £'s

Lord Sebastian Coe (centre) while on a trip around.

Part of the food section, everything from burgers to fine wines, hand made biscuits to sausages (this years selection from English, German or French), again not forgetting the sweets...

One of the t-shits on the Harley-Davidson stand - it reads

Robin Hood Harley-Davidson
Nottingham, England

Link to Robin Hood Harley-Davidson, based in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, site here

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.