The sky at Monaco

It may be partly the season, as we are within a week of the equinox, or it may have something to do with the passing cyclone, but the sky today over Monaco was as dynamic as I have seen it for a while.

One of the interesting effects of shortening days, and the lower track of the sun across the sky is the dramatic modelling of the clouds. Wonderful to paint.

I can see a week or two of apple trees and cloud studies. What fun!



14072. "Clouds seen from Monaco". Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $150

Any painting for this blog may be purchased by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


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Apples

Ahh! That's better.

I'm really looking forward to my next apple tree. They are challenging, but really fun.
I'm so used to apples in the studio. Apples on a tree with constantly flickering and changing light. Wow!



15071. "Apples." Oil on panel. 6x8 in. NFS


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Apples

Not a good photo. Not a good painting.
Started too late

Will finish this tomorrow.



Sun went.

Apple trees are more complicated than I thought.


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Miss Otago. Reprise.

It was lovely to meet up,with a friend from Facebook for the first time today.
I have exchanged comments with Ian Given on several occasions over the past few months. It was good to go out painting together.

We had a go at the old trawler, Miss Otago. She has as yet not left us for her last voyage. Lovely sunny day again. It made the hills behind her much brighter than usual.



15070. "Miss Otago". Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $150.

Any painting from this blog may be purchased by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz

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Crabapple Tree

I struggled with this one. We have a lot of apple trees and they are all heavy laden. I think that I will spend the next few days painting them. They are delightful, but not easy to paint at all.

These difficult challenges are what make plein air painting so fascinating, (and frustrating too), at times.





15069. "Crabbapple Tree" oil on panel. 8x10 in. $150

Any painting from this blog may be purchased by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


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Tahunanui, back beach

Again, a very hot day, and good to be able to stand under the shade of a tree and paint.

This is part of the back beach at Tahunanui, Nelson's big beach. A favourite dog walking area, as they can roam free, off their lead. I was visited by several dogs while I was painting this. They are always glad to see something a little different.

Being so bright today there was a lot,of contrast, but I did not want to play the heavy shadow game, so I went all light and Inpressionist instead. I think it works. I'll try again soon.






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Waimea Estuary

It was a lovely early autumn afternoon today. I went out to Rabbit Island, and found a nice place to set up my easel. Almost any direction can be good as a subject, but my eye was caught by this little fisherman's shack tucked under some big trees. The tide was full and starting to run out as I began to paint.

No problem. There was plenty of water still by the time I had finished. My bigger challenge was the dappled shadows cast on my panel as the sun moved. They can play havoc with your sensitivity to nuances of tone and colour.

Of course one can always move the easel, but when caught in the white heat of composition it is easier to press on and take a chance. On this occasion I think I was lucky.



15067. "Waimea Estuary." Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $150

Any painting from this blog may be purchased by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad