Mill On The Wharfe Charcoal Sketch
Garnetts paper mill (Otley) is only a few hundred yards from my house and is cited right on the edge of the river Wharfe. I presume the weir was once used to power the mill. This view is taken from Wharfemeadows Park. I understand that the mill has been closed for a couple of years now and there are plans to turn the area in residential housing. So, its important to capture these scenes before they disappear. Rgds Julia
Wharfe Bridge on a starry night
Just for fun… Wharfe Bridge Otley from TittyBottle Park looking across to Wharfemeadows Park on a starry night. Acrylic on canvas. Enjoy. Julia
Green Scar On A Stormy Day
I’m planning to eventually do a painting based on the Semer Water story (Where the village gets cursed and flooded save only one charitable couple and their house). With that in mind I thought I’d do a few preliminary quick sketches and test run the limited palette I’m going to use. I’ll probably do this image as an acrylic before executing the final story painting. Photos never seem to do justice to the immense hills of the Yorkshire Dales – many of which could swallow whole cities and not notice it. These hills are anything but quaint and rolling! I [...]
Acrylic painting The Studio At Otley
A view of one side of my studio at Otley. A modern interpretation of a very traditional theme – the artists studio. I painted the image, on an easel, from the other side of the room (from your view point). I often sit at the table, by the window, to do sketchbook work on the tabletop easel my dad made for me when I was 14. A daylight strip bulb in the studio means I can go on working late into the night. Oh, and yes, that is a pair of bright RED Kickers! Rgds Julia
Charcoal concept sketch for Fair Becca tale painting
I’ve been pondering how to tackle this concept for a few weeks and finally set down a working sketch. At this stage I have absolutely no idea what the final outcome will be and it’ll be really interesting to see how this idea abstracts and develops in paint. This is my initial information gathering exercise. Without giving too much away… ‘Fair Becca’ is a tale of two lovers that originates from Baildon Moor, situated only a few miles from here in West Yorkshire. Baildon Moor is covered in old Bell Pit mine workings that have sunken into strange holes. They [...]
Acrylic Painting Wool Pack Pub Yorkshire
Acrylic painting, on canvas, of the Wool Pack pub in Otley, West Yorkshire. The Wool Pack is situated on Bond Gate and was an extremely old landmark pub for Otley. It was a traditional meeting place for May dances. It has lain empty for many months and, I believe, is now being converted into dance studios. Since photographing it, a week ago, all the shutters and sign-age have come down and it is looking very forlorn. I thought it was important to capture this quaintest of British pubs before it is relegated to history. Locals voiced concern over the sale [...]
Acrylic paintings of flowers
Acrylic, still life, paintings of flowers. Daffodils, Iris and Tulips on canvas and canvas paper. Images below are just partial thumbnails. Please click on any for a full, larger, view. Rgds. Julia
Oil painting of Lovers Leap legend
Love and Faith. The story goes.. That a long time ago a young man called Edwin lived in a village near Brimham Rocks. He fell in love with a beautiful, wealthy, girl called Julia. Because Edwin was poor Julia’s father did not approve of him. Eventually he forbade Julia ever to see Edwin again. Edwin and Julia decided if they couldn’t marry they would rather die and, in this frame of mind, the two young lovers took a horse at night and ran away. They rode to the top of Brimham and threw themselves from one of the highest rocks. [...]
Acrylic Painting of The Almscliffe Crag Goose Legend
The story goes.. That Almscliffe crag, near Harrogate, came about as the result of a domestic argument between the giant Rombold and his wife. In his anger the giant threw rock at her which fractured on landing and became Almscliffe crag. There is a fissure in the crag that leads to a cave and many people claim to have seen fairy gatherings there. One day a goose wandered into the cave and found the underground tunnel. Some time later the goose emerged, from a well, some three and a half miles [...]
Acrylic on canvas paper – Winter Memory
I’ve been doing a few quick acrylics on canvas paper between oil paintings. I find acrylics are great for developing skills and concepts – Learning at a much faster pace than is possible with oils. My ultimate intention is to move away from strictly representational imagery and find a vehicle for narrative. .. Lose the unnecessary detail and focus on what’s important. So the sketches have been put to one side and I’m working from memory! I’m also putting more energy into my brush strokes. It’ll be interesting to see how this technique will feed into my current oil paintings. [...]
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