Peter Barker's Palette: July 2020

Summer Breeze, near Elton Mill

Oil on Board, 18.5 x 24.5 inches.

I just fancied doing a larger painting for this gorgeous subject - hogweed amongst the foreground vegetation, swaying Poplars, scudding clouds and the breeze-ruffled river Nene - what was there not to paint!

Summer Evening, near Waternewton

Oil on Board 12 x 17 inches.

I rearranged the trees on the opposite bank, just for composition purposes. The glinting sun reflecting in the water between the swaying reeds and Purple Loosestrife bottom right was the real hook for this painting of a warm, Summer evening down by the river.

The Nene from Wansford Bridge

Oil on board 12 x 17 inches.

Wansford Bridge near Peterborough was built in 1577, is a listed building and consists of 12 arches. Only one car can pass at any time and there are several triangular pedestrian passes along it, from one of which I took this view. I started painting this very lossely, then tightened up as the painting went on, reverting to my tried and tested methos of painting trees, which works for me

The River Windrush by Widford Bridge

Oil on Board, 10 x 14 inches

A commissioned painting by me, off to enjoy its new home, owned by a fly-fisherman who angles by this very bridge.

River Windrush, near Widford

Oil on Board, 10 x 14 inches.

I've reverted to type with this one, using my old method of painting trees, which is fast, but gives a very realistic look.Work in progress...

Swan near Elton

Oil on Board, 9 x 12 inches

Finally finished the 9 x 12 inch plein air oil painting I did last week, after days of hand-finishing frames. Must get out more in this glorious, hazy sunshine we've had between the deluges!

Early Morning Light, Portree

Pastel on Pastelmat, 19 x 27 inches.

Another possible entry for the RSMA exhibition. I just felt Pastel was a good medium for this subject, and so it proved. I just love trying to capture that intense glare on water and surrounds when looking straight into the sun. Perhaps the most enjoyable passage of this painting was the hill backdrop on the left, directly above the pure, reflected sunlight on the water. So much subtle colour and diffusion there - scrummy! And if you paint the sky the same, intense white, like a photo often captures, the effect is lost - only the sun itself is that light, so that was reserved for the reflection on the water.

English Longhorn

Pastel on Pastelmat, 19 x 27 inches.

This Pastel painting started out as a demo sometime last year. I had forgotten about it, and found it when I was getting a board out to paint a large marine Pastel, so have now finished it off. I do enjoy doing the occasional animal study, and I find Pastel a lovely medium for the job - it lends itself to painting fur, particularly.

Breakers at Broad Haven

Oil on Board, 9.25 x 13.25 inches.

We (my lovely Jane and I) had a wonderful break over on the Pembrokeshire coast a couple of years ago, walking miles along the beautiful coastline. I took a few photos and this is a painting done from that time.

Hugh Town Harbour, St.Mary's