Yellow glow

Hazy light and glowing rapeseed, near Market Harborough

The fields around the south of Leicestershire and into Northamptonshire are currently glowing vivid yellow as the rape is in flower.  When the skies are purple with storm clouds and the sun is still shining on the fields in becomes spectacular.  The day of the photo was hazy and not so dramatic but you can still see the intensity.  
I need to get out with oil paints.

I've been very busy with work committemnt, appointments and my youngest daughter moving house so no painting going on at the moment.   I will get out though.


Comments

Robyn Sinclair said…
Beautiful scene. I hope it waits for you, Vivien.
6:38 pm
Jeanette Jobson said…
What fabulous colours and contrasts. Oh yes, you have to paint this! Go now!!! :)
1:10 am
Unknown said…
Cambridgeshire is aglow with the fields of rapeseed too;a stark contrast against the rich greens of neighbouring fields and hedgerows. I tried to capture it quickly with pastel pencils while travelling home on the bus a couple of weeks ago - but I think you're right, it needs the opacity and richness of oil paints to capture it.
7:43 am
Tina Mammoser said…
My eyes love it! :) My sinuses loathe it. heh.
7:47 am
vivien said…
Tina me too! good old Telfast keeps life bearable.

Yes the oils are coming out - each year I say I'll catch it and miss it. The same with the subtle pale colour of the ripe wheat rippling like silk.

For me definitely oils needed.
4:00 pm
Anita said…
Germany is awash with the acid yellow of rapeseed too. Half of me is drawn to paint it and the other half is repelled by its harsh colour. Prefer the colour of ripening wheat!
2:03 pm
vivien said…
Ripening wheat really is beautiful I agree - in this part of the county, with its patchwork fields and hills, I do actually like it.
10:13 pm
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Eye, Urban/Rural exhibition

Image
Vivien Blackburn's work in the Urban/Rural show We've just hung a group show at the The Eye Project, Urban/Rural show.  If you want to come and see it it's on for a month - well worth seeing, 11 lovely artists and some fabulous work. Those large canvasses are 40 inches square. There are rural landscapes, flowerscapes, intriguing textile work including a large knitted building, abstracts .... something for everyone. It's in the gallery below the cafe in the Adult Education Centre at the top of Wellington street, Leicester, opposite Fenwicks.  Meet the Arttists day is Saturday 1st April 10-2.  Come and have a chat with us?
Read more

Hedges silhouetted agains the snow, winter light: watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal pencils in Stillmand and Birn Beta Hardback sketchbook

Image
 Detail  I have always liked the calligraphic tangle of the hedges when they are sihouetted against the sky.   Recent snowfall meant even more opportunities with amazing light and the landscape simplified and hidden by the snow, throwing hedges into relief. Above is a detail of a double page sketch in the lovely Stillman and Birn Beta A4 hardback sketchbook.  This paper is so forgiving and the watercolour works beautifully with it.  It allowed me to work through wet washes with charcoal pencil - something that tears many papers, leaving holes.  Some of the hedge is paint, some tinted charcoal. First snow, more on the way, winter light: silhouetted hedges in watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal in a Stillman and Birn A4 beta hardback sketchbook The earlier warm golden glow of the low sun is covered by clouds, threatening more snow to come.   The spiky calligraphic marks of the hedge and the underlying form of the bank, with some of the taller dried grasses showing
Read more

paint or sketch trees: challenge

Image
Close up of tree bark, Marqueyssac, France. photo: Vivien Blackburn Another challenge Rather than another update on the seascapes I've decided to run another challenge in response to feedback from the trees post. Feedback from people said they got a lot out of the skies challenge and I'm sure you will out of this one :>) click the image on the left to link to the original post on trees and you can check all posts with the tag 'trees' here The challenge is to produce sketches of trees done from life. These can be: close ups, extreme close ups, whole tree, part of tree, distant views - whatever you want. Style: anything goes - photorealism to impressionism but with underlying observation Medium: your choice, anything goes :>) oil paints, acrylics, watercolours, mixed media, charcoal, graphite, coloured pencils, pen, oil pastels, pastels, pastel pencils ....... etc etc etc Timescale: we'll finish at the end of July and I'll post links to your blogs t
Read more