Subject finding trip #1 - Lake District

Sorry for not posting for some time, lots of work... anyway, below are some pictures taken on my last trip to the Lake District. A trip up one of many interesting valleys, Langstrath. It is a long valley (hence the name) and can take a hour or so just walking, add in finding the best view, doing sketches, food/drink etc and time passes all to quick. Some readers will know that I visit this valley more often than I should and have reported on it before but each trip always provides something different... this time (two days) superb light, snow on the higher ground and lots and lots of water...

The first waterfalls... Galleny Force. More interesting views to be had lower down on the foreground rocks.

Lookig back towards Stonethwaite and into Borrowdale. The above falls are behind the lower trees (right hand side)

Turning around there are more falls, some care and fence jumping needed - not the place really for taking to long over sketching... but the noise from the water was great

The first real view up Langstrath... no that's not the beck (behind trees to left) but the footpath. As mentioned lots of water...

A subject much painted by artists and why not...

Further up, another favorite location of mine, more rapids... always interesting clouds on this day, highlights on the water and snow on Bowfell.

A look back down the valley

 Again, more waterfalls and rapids...

And the view back. The odd tree does make it in this valley.

The Langstrath Beck goes through a number of narrow gorges (shown below) while above shows below the gorge with the crystal clear and deep water - in 'summer' a great place for a swim.

 Above the gorge, a different feel... at least for a while (more waterfalls etc) but that's as far as I managed.

Next day... less cloud for some of it...

Footpaths are on both side of the Langstrath Beck, yesterday I was on the other bank. Above again shows the clear water with thousands of pebbles to draw, never mind paint.

 Again the waterfalls seen in picture number three but from the other bank.

The meeting of Langstrath Beck and Greenup Gill as they then head towards Stonethwaite and Borrowdale

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Last two, at least for the now, from the Lake Distict

 Detail from "Skiddaw reflecting on Derwent Water", Derwent Water, Borrowdale.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021406

A great view towards Skiddaw across the almost still Derwent Water. My only concern while painting this was should I paint the right hand side trees with or without the cast shadow from the trees behind me. In the end I went for how it was at the time and adds that extra dimension. Again the water with reflections, shadows and clear so the bottom could be seen was great to paint.

Detail from "Above Buttermere and Crummock Water", Buttermere, Cumbria.
Oil. Alistair Butt © 2014 - #AB 021408

Reference for this painting was gathered on my last trip to the Lake District. Having parked at Honister Slate Mine and then walked towards Haystacks (just to left hand side) one is presented with a series of stunning views over Buttermere and Crummock Water and onwards to Scotland. It was late afternoon and only had an hour or so of light left although there were still many people walking in both directions - a nice contrast to some valleys that I head into and know that I'm the only person there.

The only and minor 'artistic' change was to make some of the right hand side clouds slightly larger, they were there so colour reference was available, just less developed and looked a bit odd. The heather is always an interesting subject to paint and I use a combination of techniques to get the effect. Having done the base colours, it's then stippling using a range of brushes (normal art brushes to 1" or 25mm household paint brushes and/or handmade ones using broken up wallpaper paste brushes) and applying the right colour/tone for each area/section. Rigger brushes are then used for the longer grasses or adding more defined edges/details.

All the Cumbrian/Lake District related paintings are now available for sale at Beckstones Art Gallery which is located in the small village of Greystock Ghyll, just off the A66 Penrith to Keswick road.