Hi Mary and thanks for this. Yes, the plein air group is developing into a really nice little community and, from a personal perspective, I’m really enjoying the challenge and discipline of painting plein air on a more regular basis (though can’t deny I’m looking forward to doing it even more when the weather’s a little warmer!)

Thanks too for the comments about the ‘contrejour’/into the light paintings – I do like the approach as I think the views have such drama about them but I do also worry a little about becoming a bit of a ‘one-trick painter’ (another reason that I wanted to do the course on greens!)

I’m still preferring number two for the spontaneity. But now that you say there are bluebells in the foreground, I like that and the particularly dark blue-green in the foreground on the left of the third painting.

I think I must work on back lit, shadows and people. You make it look so effortless but I know it’s not.

Hi Rob and thanks for this, all much appreciated. Funny you should mention the vitamin D – it’s probably a sign of just how fair skinned I am that I actually returned from this February outing with the distinctly red nose and cheeks of someone that has caught the sun!
Thanks to for the comment about ‘bothering to post this’. I described the importance of my blog to the person that’s working on my new website as being ‘the stick that keeps this donkey painting’ – It’s a wonderful bonus if anyone actually bothers to read it too!