My Favourite Artists

 

Artists and designers that have inspired my love of art are listed below. They have changed the way I see the world.  Each of these has inspired how I draw, design and paint. 

If you have a favourite artist take a moment to think about what you like in their work.  Is it the composition?  Subject? Colour? Just taking time to think about this may help you cultivate a style of your own.

Leonardo da Vinci

Michelangelo Merisi (da Caravaggio)

Joseph M. W.Turner

Gustave Courbet

William Holman Hunt

Claude Monet       

Vincent Van Gogh

Pablo Picasso

Wassily Kandinsky

Kasimir Malevich

Franz Marc

Giacomo Balla

Hannah Hoch

Salvador Dali

Edward McKnight Kauffer

Tom Purvis

 Dame Barbara Hepworth

Henry Moore

Edward Hopper

Jackson Pollock

Mark Rothko

Frank Stella

Best wishes

Lee

Stylising and Abstracting Seascapes May 2015

Friday was the final class in an exciting course where students took seascape images and created stylised, semi and abstracted seascapes. 

 

Here are some of the paintings completed - a big thank you to the artists whose work is shown here and many thanks to Liz who also attended, but unfortunately missed the photo session.  

Best wishes

Lee 

Painting by Liz

Painting by Linda

Painting by Jean 

Painting by Jan

Painting by Lolly

Expressive Seascapes May 2015

Painting by Carol

The wonderful paintings you see here are the results of a four week expressive seascape and landscape course.  

Some are more expressive than others, however each artist in their own way stretched themselves further than they had before in this genre.

Painting by Carol

Painting by Cathy

Painting by Judi

Painting by Simonne

Painting by Tony

Detail of Painting by Derek

Painting by Maureen

Painting by Dawn

Painting by Meryel

Many thanks to all the artists whose work is shown here.  

Also thanks to Pam and Maria whose paintings are not shown here.  

If you are interested in joining my future classes I will be running two courses in June:

• 4 week Atmospheric Painting at Northwood WI Hall commencing Friday 5th June 2015

• 1 day Painting and Drawing Workshop at Bembridge Village Hall on Thursday 25th June 2015

If you would like to book onto these courses please give me a call on 01983 409785.

Best wishes

Lee

En Plein Air Painting at Bembridge Point Isle of Wight

On Thursday myself and four students made our way to Bembridge Point laden down with our painting equipment and bags of enthusiasm.  We were lucky with the weather.  The day before had seen tremendous winds, but we were blessed with weather  perfect for artists in the great outdoors! 

We each found our ideal positions to pitch ourselves and then the fun started. Below are some pictures a student took of me painting....

Painting on the beach at Bembridge Point - May 2015

This is my finished painting which was painted in situ on the beach.  The second photograph is a detail which illustrates the loose palette technique which I utilised. I am really happy with how the painting turned out and the palette knife technique captured the movement of the sea and sky.  

Bembridge Point - Copyright of the artist Lee Papworth 201

Detail of Bembridge Point oil painting

If you would like to have a go at en plein air painting I will be teaching a one day course of oil painting in the great outdoors on Saturday 27th June from 10am to 3pm called Painting with Oils at Quarr Abbey. The cost is £25 or £15 concession.

To book on the course call the Community Learning Centre on 01983 817280.

Best wishes

Lee

General En Plein Air Tips

Here are a few tips to help you with en plein air painting in the Great Outdoors!

1.   Choose a good view (Move around to find a dynamic view, use L shapes or a viewfinder to find a good composition).

2.   Your position (Are you going to sit or stand? – choose one and stick to it).

3.   Take photographs (Take photo’s of your exact view, they may be useful later).

4.   Set up easel safely (Make sure it’s weighed down if windy, make sure it’s steady, tighten all wing-nuts and remember don’t block access points, be mindful of the public).

5.   Do pencil sketches (Creating small thumbnail sketches will help you focus your composition, write down notes on colours, tones and weather conditions).

6.   Note tonal values (Use a tonal value stick if you have one, note darkest areas).

7.   Do Colour sketches (Optional, use watercolours to do prelimary colour sketches).

8.   Setting out paints and equipment (You may wish to organise your paints and arrange any other equipment before you start).

9. Commit to your composition (Do not be tempted to readjust your painting should the sunlight or weather conditions change).

10.Keep yourself safe (Be aware of your environment at all times).

Where to Start Your ‘En Plein Air’ Painting:

You can either begin by painting ‘direct’ or you can follow the following steps…

1.    Establish a composition using L shapes or a viewfinder.

2.    Using diluted (thinned) oil paint to create an underpainting which outlines the general composition (use Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, Raw Sienna or a mix of Cad. Orange and French Ultramarine).

3.    Block-in the composition, by painting in the shadow areas first, then mid-tones, then light areas – use more diluted paint as you progress.

4.    Define the shapes in your composition.

5.    Start to paint the middle ground.

6.    Paint the background and sky.

7.    Step back at regular intervals to distance yourself.

8.    Paint the foreground generally.

9.    Add more details and texture to foreground.

10.  Paint the highlights and final details.

This week I am taking a group of learners en plein air painting and will do a follow up blog post next weekend...

Best wishes

Lee