Saturday 22 January 2011

A Saturday in January

Just got in from "road testing" my new prochade box.  I did the coast path from Sennen to Mill Bay and back, about 5 miles in total with lots of painting stops to thoroughly test the kit.
This is the first sketch, it was a very cold day but absolutely beautiful, clear sky and blue sea.  The cliffs round Lands End are high and very rocky with dramatic views of the sea below.  I could spend days painting there.
The prochade box was ordered on Wednesday and arrived on Thursday and I am most impressed with it.  It looks great and holds just the right amount of kit.  I have my old rucksack with another little kit for watercolours, gloves and waterproof trousers, flask etc.  All in all a great way to spend a Saturday in January, well it beats shopping!

9 comments:

Making A Mark said...

Amazing - and that definitely looks like a brand new pochade box!

You've caught the terrific contrast in values you get alomg that coast. Do you walk along mentally working out which colour combinations to use as you look at the cliffs?

Jeanette Jobson said...

Those are great views and dramatic paintings. I love the turquoise colour of the sea near the end of the video clip. You 'have' to paint that. :)

Yes, a pochade box like yours makes life so much easier when hitting the trails.

Sarah said...

I definitely walk along mentally! Yes I think about colours and tone and all, all the time, gets quite dangerous!
Am thinking about training myself to become ambidextrous as well...maybe a new blog to chart the journey!

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

I can see in your sketches the lovely day it was, Sarah. And that is one of the big things that fascinates me in a painting.
The color of the water is superb...which colors/combinations did you use?
And the new pochade...we are like children with our new "toys", right!
A great start to you project!
R xx

Sarah said...

R, I used Phthalo Blue, Cerulean Blue a tiny bit of Phthalo green and a bit of olive green, the other colours on both sketches were paynes grey, white and yellow ochre with the tinyest bit of cad yellow. I am trying very hard to remember my colour names and to use a limited pallett when out!

Laura said...

Such clear, cold colors! I am so glad Lands End is not spoiled---I spent some time in Cornwall one summer between college semesters and I was stunned by its beauty. I have not wanted to go back, afraid that it was ruined. Your paintings and your story about making them in this particular part of Cornwall are a wonderful gift!

Sarah said...

There is a bunch of rubbishy buildings at Lands End Laura, but not much and it is possible to scurry past hugging the cliff path and looking the other way! For the most part it is pristene and being looked after well.

Lindsay said...

You inspire me. Pushing your comfort zone indeed! I look forward to seeing this project unfold.

vivien said...

one of my favourite parts of the world - when is the lottery going to let me move down there? I've got a similar box that I had at uni - the woodwork department made them for us.