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 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. 

Various studies

From 19th May to 10th June, I have been experimenting, studying, and wiping off.

My focus has been on tonal values and simplification through oil studies and pencil sketching. A couple of plein air paintings were done and wiped off because I wasn't confident enough to really see something new in them—and now I wish I hadn't done it. This is part of the learning process.

So, here is a mix of what I've been up to:

On 19th May, I painted this and then, in the studio, I decided to wipe it off.

Between 20th and 21st May, I focused on these four tonal value studies in oil on board:

four tonal value studies in oil on board

study 1

study 2

study 3

(Study 4 is in the first picture above)

Plus this little coloured study of trees and bushes:

From 26th to 30th May, I worked both in the studio and in the garden with sketches and an oil study.

A tonal value study adopting the sight-size technique for the first time
(not a great result, but I was curious to try it)

Tonal value preparatory sketch

During the plein air painting stage

Final version of the oil study

On 2nd June, I did two oil studies of a still life in the garden. The first was from direct observation, and the second was from observing the first study itself. Why? To try to loosen up my brushstrokes and be more spontaneous.

Work in progress with study 1

Study 1

Study 2

On 3rd June, I directed my attention to the Brecon Beacons National Park by looking through my window.

Here are two studies of the same panorama at two different moments of the day.

On 6th June, I did two more oil studies of flowers.

Tulips

Peonies and coffee cup

Finally, on 10th June, I went out for a plein air session and ended up with two paintings of the same subject because I wasn’t convinced by the first one.

This is the first painting, which no longer exists.

The second painting was finished the day after, and you can see it in my next post.

Crai reservoir

Today I decided to make the most of this glorious weather and so I went to paint the view of the Crai reservoir from a lay-by in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

81.
Crai reservoir
8 x 12 in / 20.32 x 30.48 cm
oil on board
10th May 2025

It was an absolutely amazing place. The light changed constantly, and many bikers and cyclists stopped to have a chat and a peek at my painting.

I really needed to be out in this stunning national park.

Lay-by location on the A4067

Plein air painting in progress

The washing line

"The washing line" is the first painting of 2025 and the first painting made in Ystradgynlais, the village in Wales where I live now.

80.
05/05/2025
The washing line
7 x 9 in / 17.8 x 22.9 cm
oil on board

05th May 2025

I painted it en plein air from my garden. I have always been fascinating by clothes lines and this is the first chance I had to capture it with my paint.

This painting has revealed me new aspects of oils and I like the fact that on the background there is the Brecon Beacons National Park.

This was my painting setting and view.