Glitter path at the Cape, 17th September 2020, 4.00pm

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Plein air, oil on board apprx. 20x15cm

After a relatively cloudy start the skies cleared and the coast enjoyed a warm and sunny early autumn day.  By the afternoon the strong, blustery wind presented quite an obstacle when executing this sketch.  The Sun’s glitter path on the ocean is much more apparent than during the summer months when the Sun is higher in the sky, as, now tracking southwards along the horizon, it decreases in elevation with each passing day.  As autumn gives way to winter the glitter path will become ever more narrow until the winter solstice, after which the process will play in reverse heralding the return of spring and summer.

Nine Maidens pond at dusk, 10th September 2020, 7.15pm

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Plein air, oil on board apprx. 24 x 15cm

Sketch of sky colours and reflections in the pond at Nine Maidens common. I tried to get as much information down as quickly as possible in this abbreviated sketch before the light went. I may return again when the conditions are right to try and address some aspects of the scene that I didn’t understand this time around.

In the rain, 4th September 2020, 4.00pm

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Plein air, oil on board apprx. 24 x 15cm

I thought it might be interesting to visit the pond by nine maidens common during the afternoon to try to get some of the autumn colours despite the dull cloudy weather. Although rain was expected I hadn’t anticipated it would arrive before I finished the sketch and eventually I had to stop working on it.  While the rainfall wasn’t particularly heavy it was sufficient to soak the painting and my painting gear, the paint and rainwater forming a gloopy emulsion making it impossible to control the paint.

While it might not seem a good idea to paint in rainy conditions colours become much more intense in wet weather, and in the city one has the additional challenge of the multitude of reflections from pavements which add interest.  It’s certainly the case here that as summer gives way to autumn the cloak of warm russets, yellows, golds, purples and mauves on the moorland become all the more richer and varied in the rain.