My daily post is coming.

I'm having problems getting it to post.

In the meantime, here is today's painting. Mount Robert, at Lake Rotoiti.



15119. "Waiting for the Ship". Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $150

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

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


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Brent working on the Pelin

Ok. Had tea. Lit fire. Went into studio, and finished this painting. I think that the figure completes it.



15118. "Brent working on the Pelin". Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $150.

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

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


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28 foot Pelin being refurbished

I was passing through the marina hard stand today and saw an old friend working on this Pelin cabin cruiser. It would have been built at least thirty years ago. Fibre glass over ply. Frank Pelin was an iconic boat designer in the sixties and seventies whose boats are instantly recognisable by the lovely flare of their bows.

I stopped and chatted for a while, and asked him if he had any objections to me painting my daily picture of the boat. No problem mate. Go for it.

The painting is not quite finished. I want to include him working away on the foredeck. Maybe finish it tonight. If I do I will repost it.



15118. "Pelin Cruiser being refurbished" oil on panel. 8x10 in. $150

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

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Maitai,New Zealand

Tempest Captain

Another view of the new lady. I just love the sweet curves of her hull. Reverse view, painted from mid morning. Started in bright sunlight, then it clouded over.

Seems to work alright as a painting.



15117 "Tempest Captain". Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $150

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

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


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A Rider of the Storms

I have discovered a new gracious lady: "Tempest Captain". She is on the hard, near where "Miss Otago" was beached. She is a vintage launch who has undoubtedly had a hard life.

I love and respect these old vessels. There is an honesty and dignity in the way they carry their bumps and bruises. They were designed and built to be sea worthy and reliable. Rugged efficiency always trumped style for the sake of fashion.

As I stood there painting her for the first, but certainly not the last time, I thought of all the storms she has faced in her time. I have cruised Tasman Bay and the Marborough Sounds often enough over the years to appreciate how calm and benign weather can turn nasty in a matter of hours. There are always bolt holes, but they are few and not necessarily close at hand.

These simple craft were built to keep the sea out, their rig on and their crew in.
She will have faced many challenges over the years, and now she rests on the hard. "Tempest Captain". A rider of many storms, home at last.



15116. "A Rider of the Storms". Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $150

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

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


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Crab apples

Poured with rain all day. I painted this lovely tree in our garden, standing on the deck, under the veranda.

I think it worked out ok, but the photo was tricky, given the difficult light.




15115. "Crab Apples" oil on panel 6x8 in. $100

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

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


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Branford Park. (For my friends and family in England)

Branford Park, in the misty rain. Not rain as such, although it has been raining quite hard, and more is expected.

This very soft and gentle painting basically signals the end of this year's Branford Park in Autumn series. By the end of April the sun remains low, and only comes into this steep sided valley for a few hours a day. For the next few months the light here is very subdued and no longer brings out the autumnal blaze that I love.

One of the joys of plein air painting every day is to watch the light change with the seasons. Again, by painting every day and working with the same subjects over and over, I am finding new subtleties.

I am also looking forward to painting them once again after they have gone for the year. Now that ANZAC Day has past I wish that I had painted more poppies while they were flourishing in our garden. Never mind. Next year I will.
.


15114. "Branford Park, in Misty Rain". Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $150

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

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad