THREE AUTUMNAL PEARS

I decided to paint this still life for a few reasons:

• It’s been raining for some time, and the weather outdoors is awful.
• I fancied eating some pears, and they inspired me when I saw them in Tesco.
• I thought they’d make a good painting subject.

So, I used my last available painting surface — a canvas board that had been lying around for a few months.

I normally paint on wooden panels, as I prefer them to canvas for plein air painting, but in this case it worked well for a still life.

144.
Three Autumnal Pears
11.8 x 11.8 in / 30 x 30 cm
Oil on canvas panel
26th October 2025 

This is the painting on the easel in my studio where the still life was arranged.

It is now available in my shop.

The Country Lane

The Country Lane is an oil painting depicting a lane I discovered a few days ago behind Callwen Church, in the Upper Tawe Valley.

I was drawn to its rural atmosphere and the gentle, meandering course of the little road winding through this peaceful countryside.

143.
The Country Lane
10 x 8 in / 25.5 x 20.5 cm
Oil on panel
19th October 2025

I like it when the colours reflect those found in real life.

Photo at the end of the painting session on location

Trees and sunlight

Trees and Sunlight is an oil painting that was started on location and completed in the studio.

It depicts a group of trees bordering a field in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve, captured in the afternoon when the sun was shining brightly on their foliage and the surrounding grass.

This strong backlighting created an atmospheric glow behind the trees in the foreground. As I was painting contre-jour, I found it difficult to see my panel clearly, so I worked en plein air as much as possible before finishing the piece in the studio, relying on my visual memory.

I particularly enjoyed the warm sunshine and loved capturing the light as it touched the still-green leaves and grass.

142.
Trees and sunlight
8 x 10 in / 20.5 x 25.5 cm
Oil on panel
13th October 2025

Photo taken on location.

SEPTEMBER STRADA EASEL CHALLENGE

September has quite literally been a challenge, as I took part in the Strada Easel Challenge.

It meant creating one painting from life every single day throughout the month — and I ended up with a full collection of 30 artworks.

I took on this challenge to push myself through an intensive painting practice, to keep learning and growing, and ultimately to create a brand-new collection of paintings that I hope you’ll enjoy.

30 paintings created during the Strada Easel September 2025 Challenge by Valentina Teghillo.
© Valentina Teghillo

You can view and purchase them on my website via this link.

Porcelain English Springer Spaniel

 Porcelain English Springer Spaniel is a small still life featuring a little dog figurine of an English Springer Spaniel.

111
Porcelain English Springer Spaniel
3.9 x 6.5 in / 10 x 16.5 cm
oil on panel
27th August 2025

I loved the fact it represents a dog dear to me and a precious object, plus its colours and reflections.

The painting next to the figurine

In the shade of the old Oak tree

 In the shade of the old Oak tree is another oil painting from Ystradfawr Nature Reserve. I really liked the big Oak tree with its lush green colour and the shade it offered. 

110.
In the shade of the old Oak tree
8 x 10 in / 20.5 x 25.5 cm
oil on panel
25th August 2025

Photo showing the finished painting in front of the tree

Down the valley, Ystradgynlais

 Down the valley, Ystradgynlais is a landscape oil painting featuring Ystradgynlais from above. 

109.
Down the valley, Ystradgynlais
6.7 x 8.5 in / 16.9 x 21.5 cm
oil on panel
24th August 2025

Photo at the end of the day with the painting on the easel

Looking down Swansea Valley

 Looking down Swansea Valley is the result of walking up the hill and discovering a stunning view.

108
Looking down Swansea Valley
8.3 x 11.7 in / 29.7 x 21.1 cm
oil on panel
22nd August 2025

It features two hills: Mynydd Allt y Grug on the right and Varteg on the left.

Photo at the end of the painting session

Fresh water

 Inspired by the water, I decided to paint it again in this sunny day.

107.
Fresh water
11.7 x 8.3 in / 29.7 x 21.1 cm
oil on panel
21st August 2025

Finished painting on the easel next to the subject

The water stream

The water stream is an alla prima painting that tries to capture the water stream movement and reflections during a dull afternoon in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve.

 

106.
The water stream
20.4 x 25.4 cm
oil on panel
20th August 2025

This is the first attempt to paint water in movement and I like it.

Real stream next to the painting

Towards the Brecon Beacons

 Towards the Brecon Beacons is an oil painting featuring a field in the farming grounds of Ystradfawr Nature Reserve. It is a field that attracted be for its being surrounded by trees and looking towards the mountains of the Brecon Beacons.

105.
Towards Brecon Beacons
6.1 x 13.1 in / 15.5 x 33.3 cm
oil on panel
19th August 2025

Photo taken of the finished painting in situ

The old tree

 The old tree features a majestic beautiful tree in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve near the gate at the end of a farming field.

I was intrigued by the play of light and reflections on the ground and on the tree trunk.

104.
The old tree
11.7 x 8.3 in / 29.7 x 21.1 cm
oil on panel
17th August 2025

Photo taken at the end of the painting session

Evening fluttering clothes

Evening fluttering clothes is another oil painting inspired by the summer windy evening when my clothes were drying in the garden. I loved their free movement and I tried to capture it with paint.

103.
Evening fluttering clothes
8 x 10 in / 20.3 x 25.4 cm
oil on panel
16th August 2025

Photo of the painting on the easel in the garden

Shed in green

 Sheed in green is a small study of the end part of my garden where the shed sits next to a lovely collection of flowers and pots.

102
Shed in green
4.6 x 6.6 in / 11.7 x 16.7 cm
oil on panel
15th August 2025

When the late afternoon offers you an interesting light.

Painting on the easel in front of the subject

The triad

 The triad is a still life featuring three objects I love: a blue vase, an onyx jar, and a small shining bottle.

101
The triad

8 x 8.7 in / 20.3 x 22 cm

Oil on panel
14th August 2025

I was inspired by the different kind of material and their relation with the light.

The finished painting on the easel

Woodland footpath

Woodland Footpath is an oil painting completed within a limited timeframe of two hours — and in full sunlight.

100.
Woodland footpath
7.9 x 9.8 in / 20 x 25  cm
oil on panel
12th August 2025

It features a hidden footpath descending to Penrhos that I discovered by chance.
I like the meandering line winding around the gentle slope where a lonely tree stood.

The scene is in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve, Ystradgynlais.

Edge of the Woods

Edge of the Woods is a painting particularly dear to me, as it captures an idyllic vision of the Welsh countryside, with trees lining a gently descending slope.

99.
Edge of the woods
6.5 x 9.4 in / 16.4 x 24  cm
oil on panel
11th August 2025

I painted it while it was raining, and I loved the peace and tranquillity of the place. It’s located in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve and depicts the countryside between the woodland and Penrhos.

It was completed in a single painting session.

Sky and land

Sky and Land is a landscape painting created on a portrait-oriented panel.

What drew me in was the striking relationship between the vast, cloudy sky and the land beneath it.

98.
Sky and land
9.8 x 5.1 in / 25 x 13 cm
oil on panel
9th August 2025

This view is from my garden, looking between two rows of Welsh cottages in Ystradgynlais.

Photo of the painting during the painting process.

Hydrangea and goblin

Hydrangea and Goblin is a still life I chose to paint because of the flower itself.

This hydrangea ended up in a vase only because it had been damaged by bad weather in the garden. It’s actually the first flower of this kind we've had — and I’ve always wanted to paint hydrangeas, so this felt like the perfect opportunity.

97.
Hydrangea and goblin
16.6 x 24.5 cm / 6.5 x 9.6 in
oil on panel
7th August 2025

I carefully arranged the composition by placing the two subjects on my living room windowsill.

I particularly liked how the light reflected on the various surfaces, as well as the outdoor background.

Photo taken at an early stage of the painting.
In background: The Lioness by Graeme Sims.

Walking path

Walking path is an oil painting created on an overcast day, when the light was flat and diffused.

I was exploring open land in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve, and this is the scene I chose to paint.

96.
Walking path

5.9 x 10.9 in / 15 x 27.7 cm
oil on panel

6th August 2025

This walking path crosses a beautiful stretch of farmland, and many people enjoy strolling there. The two figures I added in the painting are actually a couple who live on the same road as I do.

Picture taken at the end of the painting session.

I liked the idea of using an elongated panel for this landscape — it felt like a fitting format to reflect the path's gentle flow through the scenery.

Summer afternoon bird bath

When there is a striking interplay between light and shadow, I cannot help but be drawn to it.

This is exactly what I felt when I saw the sun’s rays casting shadows on the white wall and across the patio floor.

95.
Summer afternoon bird bath
10.5 x 11 in / 26.6 x 27.9 cm
oil on panel
5th August 2025

This is an alla prima painting, which means it was completed in a single session — something I am currently striving for.

To capture the subject with freshness and immediacy, I aim to finish each piece in just one sitting. This approach helps me avoid becoming overly concerned with details.

Photo taken at the end of the painting session

This oil painting is on a hardboard panel that I cut myself, as part of an effort to repurpose materials already available in my studio. That’s why the edges aren’t perfectly straight.

Home

Home is an interior oil painting I created from direct observation while standing in my living room and looking towards the kitchen.

I was drawn to the contrast between light and dark created by the wall and door dividing the two spaces, with the French windows at the back revealing the garden outside—the source of the light and colour.

94.
Home
oil on panel
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
1st August 2025

It took two painting sessions to complete this piece, but it was worth it.

Photo taken at an early painting stage.

I enjoy combining nature with interior scenes, as it brings a sense of liveliness, naturalness, and happiness to the work.

Not far away

Not far away is an alla prima plein air oil painting inspired by the Welsh landscape near where I live.

I set out intending to reach a field I often admire from my studio window. However, it turned out to be fenced farmland, and I should have asked permission to enter. Since the surrounding area was equally full of beautiful views, I decided to stop at a spot along the cycling and walking path, where I could take in a different view—one I can only just make out from my house.

93.
Not far away
oil on panel
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
26th July 2025

I'm always on the lookout for an intriguing landscape, and this was a perfect example. The play of various distances created a natural sipario beneath a magnificent sky.

This photo was taken during the early stages of the painting session at Ystradfawr Nature Reserve:

Photo taken during the painting session in Ystradfawr nature reserve.

Sunflowers

Now that our sunflowers are in bloom, I really wanted to capture their beauty with a close-up of two of them.

92.
Sunflowers
oil on panel
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
26th July 2025

It was a bit of a challenge painting them from a low angle, looking up, with the bright sunlight hitting both my panel and palette. To cope with this difficulty, I painted the entire time while holding an open umbrella in my left hand. It was also a windy day, so painting wasn’t exactly easy — but I loved it and enjoyed being fully in the moment.

Here is a photo taken on location during the painting session.

Photo taken in situ during the painting session.

The blue lamp corner

The Blue Lamp Corner is an oil painting created using a limited palette. It depicts a corner of my living room where we keep documents, diaries, and various bits and bobs.

The main attraction, for me, was the old blue lamp, which I particularly love for its shape and colour.

91.
The blue lamp corner
oil on panel
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
24th July 2025

Below, you can see a monochrome photo of the painting. I like to take these at various stages of the process—this one was taken at the final stage and shows the tonal values in the image.

I have a particular fascination with monochrome paintings and photographs; I believe they add a personal character to the subject and a greater sense of directness.

Here, you can also see the painting photographed both at an early stage of the process and once it was completed.

Early painting stage

Finished painting

This painting was completed in a working session.

Sunflowers in the garden

This is sunflower season – not only in open fields, but in my garden too.

Sunflowers in the Garden aims to capture this fleeting natural moment, when the beautiful yellow flowers finally rise and tower towards the sky.

It was painted over two sessions. It rained in between, but I managed to capture the sunny spell that blessed this spot for a few precious minutes.

The second session was completed entirely in the studio.

90.
Sunflowers in the garden
oil on panel
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
21st July 2025

The following photos were taken during the early stages of the painting – the initial sketch and the blocking-in phase, where all the colours are roughly placed.

Initial sketch: here I drew the main lines for the composition.

Blocking-in phase: here all the elements are in place.

As I often like to do, I took a photo of the finished painting in black and white to check the tonal values and make adjustments where needed. Below is the final painting viewed in greyscale.

Black and white version: a monochrome view of the painting, showing the tonal structure more clearly.

This painting, like all my others, is available to purchase on my website. 

If you'd like to follow my artistic journey, you can find me on Instagram.