meldrum art
I wrote on my Facebook page, “If I painted it, you wouldn’t believe it”. We came across this curiosity while out driving not far from where we were staying during our second last day in Brittany. It really was a “WTF” moment. Then after the initial bewilderment of the senses one starts to question, why? Why did they build it there?
La Maison Entre Deux Rochers. Plougrescant, Brittany.
I realise it is just important to paint or sketch every day. The other day was difficult because of my poor health but just doing a quick sketch makes such a difference to one’s day. Just a simple watercolour can lift the the greyest of days. I feel a lot better now which is great 🙂
Sketched on Saunders Waterford fine grain, 300g 28 x 19 cm
I have been feeling unwell all week which is a shame as I love spending time here in Brittany. Yesterday I was so low in energy but I still tried to be positive and paint from the garden. I am truly spoilt when it comes to beautiful views. I only wish I hadn’t become ill. I suffer from a thing called Fodmap intolerance, I have to be very careful what I eat.
Anyway, this is a quick impression of the view of Paimpol in Brittany from Ploubazlanec where I am staying. 28 x 19 cm.
It is beautiful here in Brittany. I am staying at my mother in law’s house in Ploubazlanec which is not far from a Paimpol where I painted this plein air sketch. I come here every year and love it every time. The weather can be unstable but I am used to that growing up in Ireland. It is actually hard to create a successful watercolour when there is a blue sky, this is something I have learned over the years.
I am delighted that the gallery, ArtQuest in Paimpol has agreed to exhibit 9 of my watercolours during the summer. A big thank you to Jean-Louis Cléret for liking my work. I wish him the best of luck and I hope he sells lots of art including my own of course.
Here are some of the paintings which are for sale at ArtQuest. All were painted plein air in the Brittany region.
This is not true of course, I will be painting many watercolours of Paimpol and Brittany in the Future. It saddens me that it will be a while before I return. I have taken lots of photographs so I will be painting the town and it’s surrounding area during the winter months.
It took me a while to learn that artists mostly sketch and take photos during the summer months, then they work on their studio pieces during the dark winter months.
Painted in my Saunders Waterford fine grain 300g 18 x 29 cm watercolour sketchbook.
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I left France ten days ago, I miss Brittany, it’s such a beautiful place and I get to paint every day! This watercolour is from my 18 x 29 Saunders Waterford sketchbook. I completed it yesterday, I added the high contrasts and the detailing, it brought me right back to Paimpol, the restaurants, the cafés and the harbour area.
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A selection of pencil sketches from my visit to Paimpol in Brittany. Drawn in an A5 Canson Croquis sketchbook.
I think capturing the light is the hardest skill to achieve in painting. I have been studying composition and tonal values during the last year, it is through the careful balance of tones that one achieves light. It’s really hard to master but I’m having fun trying. This watercolour was painted plein air a few days ago.
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