1 Sea Mist - acrylic on linen board

Here is the finished painting....

Sea Mist acrylic 20x20cm   ©LisaLeQuelenec2022

I thought I would try a little video....I hope it worked...

From now until October 31st I will be posting a painting a day that I have made over Spring and Summer. Some have been inspired by a quote from poetry or literature, things that I felt important enough to jot down in notebooks and sketchbooks over the years. For others the quote found me after the painting had been made and just seemed to fit perfectly. Either way I hope you enjoy the series. 

The inspiration for this painting came from a poem by Clinton Scollard called The Mist and the Sea'

'The mist crept in from the sea

Out of the void and the vast;

And bore the silver rain

A shimmering guest in its train...'

                                                                                              Clinton Scollard

The rest of the poem is beautiful, I loved the imagery that it captured and the gentle rhythms of its flow.

This painting is available in my Folksy store.

Scintillating seas - acrylic on linen board

 

Scintillating Seas   acrylic on linen board 20x20cm   ©2022LisaLeQuelenec

Always a challenge to paint and one I return to again and again over the years.  This is definitely the kind of sparkle that I value the most, who needs diamonds?

 This little gen is available in my Folksy Store.

- see what I did there ;o)  Wishing you a creative and successful week.

Opaline seas - acrylic on canvas board

 

Opaline Seas   acrylic on linen board 20x20cm   ©2022LisaLeQuelenec

Sea greens follow me, from these milk glass shades tumbled by the waves for who knows how long to the deep emeralds and teals of a bright sunshiny day. I think I love each variation in the spectrum as much as the next. Spring sometimes brings the mists that blow in with chilly cold fingers softening the colours and sounds of the sea only to be burnt away by the sun as she rises and grows in strength over the morning.

This painting is available in my Folksy store.

Sentries I & II - collagraph prints

 

 

Sketchbook pages ©2021LisaLeQuelenec

 

You cannot come to Bournemouth beach and fail to miss the groynes that march down the sand into the sea from Poole to Hengistbury Head there are 50-odd of them all protecting the beach from being washed away from the tide. They are part of the beach furniture here as much as sand and gulls. They are in sketchbook upon sketchbook of beach doodles I have filled since I moved here more than twenty years ago - so familiar are they that after a while they become easy to overlook.

It is a constant job for the Council to replace them which they do in sections working year on year. As a tot my son spent many a happy afternoon, from a safe distance, watching the diggers, dump trucks and cranes as they got to work removing and replacing. Once work is finished for the day and the light has become a little more exciting there were opportunities for some interesting sketching and photographing for me. I found the shadows fascinating.

Groynes at Bournemouth ©22021LisaLeQuelenec

 

 

 

They have inspired a few series of work being rather convienent ways of introducing verticals in otherwise horizontal seascapes. A large series that kind of morphs every now and then to pop it's head up is one that I think of as 'Stripes on the Shoreline' - fairly recently in monoprints which you can read about here before that in a set of 28 small mixed media collages. It has surfaced again briefly in a collagraph with some rather unexpected results...

 

I made two collagraph plates using some cardboard as a base and added acrylic mediums and carborundum powder. I incised lines first using a biro then overworking with a blade being careful not to cut all the way through - I wanted an element of drypoint to the prints. Finally they were finished with a dilute layer of acrylic medium to seal them.

Below on the left is one of the prints taken by inking up the plate in the usual fashion. The carborundum holds copious amounts of ink and is difficult to wipe making holes very quickly in the scrim I use to wipe the plate. As there was so much ink on the print and on a whim remembering Henry Tonks* I ran the print through the press again but this time with a piece of clean damp paper covering it. The result, on the right, is a second print in reverse which whilst very different in mood to the original I also thought was a pleasing image.

 

Sentries   collagraph 14x20.5cm   ©2021LisaLeQuelenec

 

The process didn't work consistantly each time and I have some interesting misprints that I will use for further explorations and sketchbook work but there are three prints and three 'tonks' are available as an edition of Sentries and Sentries II and are available both on Folksy and Etsy.

 

 

Sentries II   collagraph 14x20.5cm   ©2021LisaLeQuelenec

 

*Henry Tonks - 1862 - 1937 a teacher at the Slade School of Art who used to press newsprint on to sections of paintings to remove excessive oil paint from the surface so as to be able to continue to work without having to wait so long for it to dry. The method is known as 'tonking'

Lockdown sky studies

 

 

Sky studies  10x10cm watercolour on paper   ©2020/21LisaLeQuelenec

 

 

During lockdown I spent a lot of time looking up. There were some fantastic coloured skies, the air seemed crisper and cleaner. Maybe due to a drop in pollution? I am fortunate to live within a short distance of the beach so could easily visit during the allowed exercise time/distance. It is only really now that I am starting to get used to seeing planes in the sky again and they are still alot more infrequent than before.

 

I started a series of 10x10cm watercolours inbetween the homeschooling, dog walking and in spare moments. I am starting to put these paintings into my Folksy store each measures 10x10cm and represents a quiet moment to forget about the stress of these troublesome times.

 

 

Sky studies  10x10cm watercolour on paper   ©2020/21LisaLeQuelenec

 

Sky studies  10x10cm watercolour on paper   ©2020/21LisaLeQuelenec

A memory of yesterday's storm in my sketchbook...

Storm building - sketch from memory   11x11cm watercolour   ©2016LisaLeQuelenec

Yesterday I was a real treat! Whilst I sat on the sand in brilliant sunshine I watched a storm building over Studland, break and then move quickly out to sea. I think it must have made quite a downpour as the dark of the sky became as dark as the land and you couldn't see where one ended and the other began at one point. Tiny little flecks of white sails stood in contrast, lit up from the sun that was bright on my side of the bay, chasing the storm. The strong light reflecting the white sand at the bottom of the water made areas of the sea a gorgeous milky turquoise - a beautiful contrast to the brooding purplish/indigo of the sky.

All told it couldn't have lasted more then ten minutes or so and was such a thrill to watch, even my little prince watched enthralled. As soon as I could I had to try to record the memory in my sketchbook.

Soft Summer's Light and colour inspiration

Soft Summer's Light   acrylic on board 20x20cm   ©2016LisaLeQuelenec

A while back whilst reading blog post by Sherrie York I chuckled to myself. She was in the middle of one of her exquisite linocuts and had realised that she had mixed the exact colour of ink to match the shirt that she was wearing. This is certainly something that has happened to me more than a few times.

The post reminded me of a time many moons ago at college when a tutor asked me why I had picked a certain colour combination for a repeat pattern design. It was quite a combination - dusky pink, chestnut brown, and bright vibrant turquoise and orange! I replied that I didn't have a clue, there was no reason I just happened to mix them. It was only when I got back home to my student digs and went to the kitchen that I saw the combination in all its retro lino, ceramic tiles and Formica glory staring back at me! I guess the décor was so familiar that I had stopped seeing it. My environment subconsciously influencing my palette is something that I have noticed happening a lot over the years.

This painting is another example - I only realised when I had finished it. I had consciously been looking at these particular shells for inspiration and referring to these pages in my colour notebook.

Colour notes ©2016LisaLeQuelenec

Shells ©2016LisaLeQuelenec

Then I realised that I had also been deciding between these  Farrow & Ball  colours for a decorating project....

Farrow & Ball Dix Blue no.82, Green Blue no.84 and Tersea's Green no.236

...it has been a difficult decision as I love them all.... there may be more than one DIY project in the pipeline. ....ssshhhhhhh don't tell His Nibbs... ;o)


You can read Sherrie York's post here.

Summer evenings

Summer Evening I    14x20cm acrylic on board   ©2016LisaLeQuelenec

Summer Evening II    19.5x11cm acrylic on board   ©2016LisaLeQuelenec

Sketchbook page and beach treasures colour inspiration   ©2016LisaLeQuelenec

A rushed thumbnail sketch and treasures from my stash inspired these two paintings. Memories and observations of countless evenings at the beach all added together, interwoven and layered play their part.


Both paintings are available at my Etsy store Seaside Studios UK.

Guiding lights

Guiding Lights acrylic on canvas 50x50cm   ©2014Lisa Le Quelenec

Finally I have finished this painting started in June. It's not quite as dark in real life but I might have a wait to get a better one as more wintery weather seems to have settled in and whilst it is very mild in temperature we are having very heavy rain showers with skies much like in the painting. It feels quite apt to be posting it now.

To see the beginning stages of this painting click here.

At the edge

At The Edge     acrylic on paper 12.5x12.5cm      ©2013Lisa Le Quelenec

One of my favourite places and favourite times of day....... Another day of summer heat here but I think it is all change tomorrow as the temperature is supposed to drop 10 degrees bringing rain. I'm looking forward to a change of season.

Tranquil waters

Tranquil waters   watercolour 23x10cm   ©2013Lisa Le Quelenec

The result of paint left on my palette, a mix of paynes grey, ivory black, manganese blue and what ever else was left, one brush, a no.8 round and the end strip from a large sheet of paper that had been cut down. The inspiration came from an old sketchbook that I had been flipping through. I enjoyed painting with limited means, the challenge of making each element work hard. It was one of those off the cuff moments that just seemed to work. I thought it worked anyway..... 

I must go down to the sea again..

I must go down to the sea again,
    to the lonely sea and the sky;
I left my shoes and socks there -
    I wonder if they're dry?

                                                Spike Milligan

Coastal calm acrylic on paper 9.5x15.5cm ©2013Lisa Le Quelenec

A case of cabin fever.... :o)  Have a great weekend.

September storms - part 2

Before the Storm Broke   watercolour on paper 17x17cm   ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

The rain, it kept on coming. The news was reporting the worst September storms for thirty years and seventy flood warnings were in place, mostly in the North. Flood water has caused a lot of destruction already and I hope everyone stays safe.

On the coast the rain clouds started to disperse and we had intervals of intense, bright sun. Intuition is now taking over painting these watercolours as I start to add tiny amounts of other colours. In the painting above small hints of raw sienna are used in the sky at the horizon and in some of the cloud.  I've also added a tiny amount of gouache for the sails and sparkle of the water. Unusually for me this one is painted on rough Arches. Whilst I frequently used to use rough paper in the passed the last couple of years I have preferred hot press. I shall continue to experiment with it for now.

Today the sun is shining and it feels like a crisp autumnal day so I will head to the beach to walk and make the most of it whilst it's here.

 More postcard sized experiments.

September storms

Gathering cloud - the Needles   13x10cm watercolour on paper   ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

I have been continuing my experiments with 'black' watercolour that I started last year. You can see the original posts  here  and  here .  Since Sunday we have been 'blessed' with really heavy rain storms occasionally shot through with blazing sunshine. The sky has been very changeable with dramatic rain clouds and yesterday when they had rained themselves out and the sun shone I escaped to the beach. There was a very strong wind - too strong for painting down there but I did have a good walk and took some photos that may be used as reference. The sea was very choppy with lots of big crashing waves sending spray flying. I love this weather!

Towards Swanage 24/09/12 photograph

Below are a couple of postcard sized experiments  - more to follow.....

Haze at Old Harry

Haze at Old Harry   acrylic on canvas 50x50cm   ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

I definitely seem to have been going through a blue period this summer. It has taken a lot of experimenting with layering glazes of different blues but I finally feel close to capturing that special glowing blue you see at dusk. When I see it in the sky I drink it in greedily knowing that it won't last long and I will have to wait for completely clear skies to see it again. The white water isn't as stark in the painting, it's warmer and bluer. I wanted to show a lazy kind of movement in the wave - sometimes they build up slowly and fizzle out in a short distance as they near the sand.

Turning the painting into a grey scale in editing software is useful to check the tonal values. I've been doing this at different stages throughout this painting and it has helped particularly in getting smooth graduations of tone with the different blues.

Haze at Old Harry grey scale ©2012

Just for fun I flipped the photo horizontally, a slight adjustment to the land mass and it could be the other side of the bay showing the Isle of Wight and the Needles. It could be an idea for another painting for another day...

Bloggoversary 2

A silent sea acrylic on paper 15x22cm ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

Today I am raising a coffee mug to 2 years of blogging. When I look at numbers I find it astonishing I mean really.. 38,855 page views? That is incredible. What is even more incredible and cannot be quantified are the friends that have been made and just how many people have touched my life through this medium. I may never get to meet them in 'the real' but I appreciate all their support and kindness.

In celebration of being a part of this amazing community I would like to offer up this painting in a giveaway. It will come mounted in a pale cream board wrapped in cellophane.

To be in with a chance of winning just leave a comment at the end of this post (if the lovely people who have, previous to this post, subscribed as followers want to join in I will add their names twice to double their chances of winning).

All names will be written on pieces of paper and popped into a hat, ‘His Nibbs’ will pick a name on Friday August 31^st  2012 at 9.30pm (UK time). The winner will be announced the following day. I will then contact you to find out the address the painting is to be posted to and will happily send it 2nd class post within the UK or standard airmail anywhere in the world at my cost. Should the painting get lost or damaged in transit I cannot be held responsible - I will get proof of postage. (I know the last bit sounds a little official, whilst I do not expect any problems of this sort I just wanted to cover myself for circumstances outside of my control.)
 
***Please note the copyright of this painting remains my property and does not transfer to the winner**

There won't be any posts until the draw as I will be taking a break to enjoy some time with some visitors who are coming to stay. Have a great couple of weeks and good luck to those who enter.

Celebrating and reaching mile stones

Last Saturday I celebrated winning first in show in the 'Postcards from Christchurch' Exhibition at the  Red House Museum. The Exhibition is on until 15th September and is a wonderful mix of painting, photography, collage, painting on china and textiles in many different styles and of many different subjects. What each art work has in common is the format which is 6x4inch. The way that each artist has approached this format is so diverse and makes for an interesting show which is well worth a visit.

I was in such a rush to get the paintings for this show delivered that I forgot to get a photograph of them. I will update this post later with one.  In the meantime as I hate to post with out any images I thought I'd share a photograph of this wonderful view from the beach at Southbourne. The rain never came but the sky did feel very dramatic.

From Southbourne beach ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

Today I reached a mile stone - 100 pieces of work in my Etsy gallery . An achievement, not just the number but the steps that I had to take to get there. As with everything the first one was the hardest. I like being part of the Etsy community and it gives me a real thrill to be able to personally send work direct to people anywhere in the world.

Thursday will be the 2nd year bloggoversary for Seaside Studios - another milestone which I think is well worth celebrating. I hope to see you then.

True blue

True Blue acrylic on canvas 30x60cm © Lisa Le Quelenec

Well after a couple of hours more painting, lightening the sand on the lower right and quietening down some of the tonal contrasts everywhere else I can now call this painting finished. Knocking everything else back so the sole focus is on the breaking wave with a softening glaze now brings much more attention to the crest and the delicious shadow that I've tried to capture. Thank you  Bruce  and   Zoe   for your help over this painting, your comments and feedback are much appreciated.

From behind the cloud...



From Behind the Cloud
acrylic on canvas board 20x20cm
©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

I find the way shafts of light illuminate the sea endlessly fascinating and incredibly difficult to paint. I think this painting is the closest yet, it has been a couple of months in the making (and endless hours at the beach just watching and observing, trying to memorise and sketching). Small adjustments lightening an area here, darkening there, hints of colour, adjusting, readjusting. It's been an interesting and frustrating challenge.

This is the first painting that I am putting aside for an exhibition in June. It happened last year and it's going to be the same this year too.... four exhibitions during a six week period. It will be a busy time leading up to it. Good job that I love to be busy :o)

It feels apt that I am posting it today after the heavy rain yesterday which ended in really contrasting bright sunshine and heavy cloud. I didn't make it to the beach but I'm sure it must have looked like this late afternoon.

Saturday sketches

An hour at the beach on Saturday afternoon and very fast changing weather/light conditions meant sketching had to be super fast.

From overcast with high contrast like this......

















 

To much clearer blue skies and warm sunshine like this....  

(Photographs by His Nibbs)