River Yar Stage IV

Stage IV

Using various mixes of Cobalt Blue, Cad Yellow Pale, Raw Sienna and Zinc White highlights were added to the distant trees along the back edge of the wheat field. Next the barn was put in (mixes of Z. White and Raw Umber) and then the wheat field itself was painted with mixes of Z. White, Yellow Ochre, Raw Umber and Alizarin Crimson. This was applied so that a certain amount of streakiness was created in the direction of the lay of the land i.e. slightly uphill from left to right. Next the hedges and small trees were put in using the same combination of colours as the distant trees only with slightly darker tonal values, this is the hedge that follows the old railway line from Yarmouth to Freshwater. The next stage is to paint in the marsh land between the hedge and the water of the Yar itself.

Stage II & III

Stage II 

An Acrylic wash of Alizarin Crimson, White and a touch of Raw Umber was applied over the initial drawing after the oil painting proper was started. A simple sky of Cobalt Blue, and Zinc (mixing) White with a touch of Raw Umber starts the sky at the top adding a little more white as I paint down the sky and in the lowest third of the sky a little Alizarin Crimson is added to warm the sky a little. The downs are painted next with various mixes of Cobalt Blue, Cadmium Yellow Light (thank God the EEC didn't ban the Cadmium colours from production) Raw Umber, Raw Sienna and Zinc White. All of the greens to this stage are produced using these same basic colurs. Next is some light details in those distant trees, not too much at that distance.

My Current Project

The Western Yar from Yarmouth Bridge

Stage I

This is a medium grained stretched cotton canvas with the initial drawing sketched in with a minimum of detail, in fact the drawing of the masts is for your benefit now as I will just paint over them when putting in the water but it gives you an early idea of the composition which I suppose technically is best described as an 'S' or 'Z' composition, note the line of moored yachts leading in from the foreground and then sweeping around the middle distance and I will use a few artistic tricks to lead back across the distance and into the sky from right to left. The next stage is to put an acrylic wash over the whole canvas to kill the white, seal the graphite pencil lines and make tonal value judgement easier, or at least, less deceptive, tonal value can be easily misjudged on a stark white ground (the bare, white primed canvas). It is difficult to erase errors in the drawing on a canvas texture so I shall simply paint over them; I have adjusted the height of some of the mooring posts.

The Glory of the Lake District

The Inspirational Lake District

Lake Coniston from the Northern Shore

Lake Windermere from Waterhead

Lake Coniston from HF Holidays House 'Monk Coniston' (an oil sketch)

These three paintings are the result of sketches and photographs done whilst tutoring  a holiday at Monk Coniston last year for HF Holidays. The oil sketch was created on the spot as a demonstration whilst the two above are studio paintings resulting from field trips. I leading another landscape painting holiday at Monk Coniston next year, why not come and have a go yourself!

REMOTE LOCATIONS ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

Most recently, I worked on a project to create art work around difficult to reach locations on the Isle of Wight to support the branch opening of Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s car hire branch on the Isle of Wight.

 

All the work can be viewed on the car hire company’s online publication, Enterprise Magazine.

I decided to paint ‘Freshwater Bay’.

 

Fellow artists involved: 
Alastair Riley

Charlie James

Jason Swain

Lisa Traxler

Paul Hewson
Zoe Barker

 

 

November Painting Holidays

I am leading two very different painting holidays in November... 

The first is A Beginners guide to Pen and Ink Drawing for HF Holidays at their  Church Stretton house from November 7th to November 10th. (Sorry this one is now fully booked)! 

'A Farmhouse of Much Wenlock' (Pen and Ink)

The second is a Pastel Painting holiday 'A Passion for Pastels' at the wonderful 17th century farmhouse 'Shorland Old Farm' in Challacombe on the Devon side of the Exmoor National Park. This holiday is suitable for all levels of ability as it allows for a great deal of one to one tuition as well as my normal demonstrations. The food and accommodation is superb with a very friendly and social atmosphere created by Mark and Sandy Aylen our very genial hosts! If you love pastel painting or wish to get under way with painting in pastel you couldn't book a better holiday why not come and join us?

November 22nd to 29th details on my web site:- www.murrayince.com or on www.shorlandoldfarm.co.uk

'Early Morning Mist' (Pastel painting)

New Paintings

My Latest Paintings

Misty Morning Le Manoir de Gurson

It's worth getting up early occasionally to see scenes such as this and you know you just have to paint the scene. This, and the following two paintings were all executed using Artisan water-mixable oils. Misty Morning was painted on a   12" x 10" stretched cotton canvas. the muted pastel colours of the distance and indistinct forms give the painting depth and allows for the foreground trees and shrubs to be painted in grey greens to give a soft focus effect as seeing the scene through a typical early morning, low lying mist on what proved to be a hot summers day.

Lake Windermere from Waterhead

This and the following 14" x 10" painting was mostly painted live in front of an audience at the SAA 'Its All About Art' show at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London on the 24th July 2014. I took them home and put the finishing touches on them. They are both painted in Winsor and Newton water-mixable oils on stretched cotton canvases, it is great to work on a stretched canvas its strange but you get a response from the canvas which seems to improve the painting and on the whole the canvas is normally of a better quality which also aids the techniques used for oil painting.

A Field in Bourton on the Water

A very quick painting the aim of which was really to demonstrate the ease of rendering sky, clouds, middle distant trees and a simple foreground which added together can make an interesting if simple landscape. 

Oil painting is the most forgiving of mediums and the advantage of using water mixable oils is to not have to use noxious turpentine and thinners and be able to simply wash your brushes and equipment with a little soap and water. Why not have a go? If you don't fancy going it alone why not come and have a few lessons with me? All of the details can be found on my website www.murrayince.com or just click on the link! 

Relaxed Painting Holiday In France

Le Manoir De Gurson

There are a few places left on the first weeks painting holiday with me at Le manoir De Gurson in the beautiful Dordogne region of France (May 24th to 31st). The second week is fully booked (8 artists). This is a wonderful area with much to paint and in an extremely relaxed, friendly atmosphere. If you are looking for a v ery goodl value for money painting holiday this is extremely difficult to beat. Have a look at the website www.manoirdegurson.co.uk

'Le Chateau De Gurson' The Old Prison Cell and Chateau ruins, not your accommodation!

Easter Exhibition At Ventnor Botanical Garden

I am exhibiting at The Ventnor Botanical Garden over Easter and will have the most paintings I've ever exhibited in one place with many bargains on offer. The exhibition opens on Thursday 17th April and closes on Monday 21st of April ot is open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm daily. I will be painting during the exhibition and will have details of all of my forthcoming painting holidays and workshops both here in the UK and in Europe.

Totland Bay And Fort Albert From Headon Warren

Coach Trip To 'It's All About Art Show'

 

I have provisionally booked a coach with Kardan for a trip up to the SAA's 'It's All About Art' Show on Thursday July 24th the cost will be £26 per person which includes the return ferry fare and coach of course, but does not include the entry to the show, however I can pre-order tickets on your behalf. The show entry ticket costs will be £10 per person which still means that the trip will only cost £36 in total. The coach is a 48 seater and I will need a minimum of 40 people to be able to run this one at £26, should we get more than 40 a small refund may be possible.

 

There will be a great deal to see and do at the show and for more details about the show have a look at the web site  www.saa.co.uk If you have never been, it is fascinating day out and many extremely good bargains can be bought.

 

If you would definitely like to go let me know and I will put your name down immediately, I must have it filled by June 1st or I will have to cancel.

The coach will pick up at Coppins Bridge Car Park in Newport at 07.15 to get the 08.00 ferry from Fishbourne, these will be the only two pick up points so that we only need the one driver (time constraints). 

For those of you who have never been there are ample opportunities to watch many live demonstrations and even to participate. There are art materials everywhere you look at bargain prices and the chance to talk to many specialist manufacturers and artists.

Places are obviously limited, if you can let me know ASAP I'll put you on my list and places will be on a first come first serve basis. I will be doing two 45 minute demonstrations in 'Artisan' oils and of course would love to see you on the day!

Very Best Wishes,

                         Murray