Drawing and painting outside

I tend to do some drawing and sketching outside every year and it always takes me somewhere new. In June I went out into the Lincolnshire Wolds, to Oxcombe Pottery. It is a beautifully tranquil place with stunning scenery.

I started working in charcoal, one of my favourite ways of capturing something quickly. Noticing which aspects were drawing my attention - clouds of cow parsley, the sweeping lines of the rolling hills, the big blousy flowers in the borders, the beautiful blues of the barn doors and the muted tones of the sheds and out-buildiings.

I had waited for the weather to warm up a bit, (drawing outside in waterproofs in the rain is not for me!) It was a sunny, windy day. I’d brought paper in sketchbooks so I didn’t have to hold them down and the weather meant everything dried quickly.

This was actually the first time I’d tried painting outside! I’d taken a small selection of acrylics and was able to mix all the colours I needed. I had my stay wet palette but did need to keep spraying it with water to stop it drying out. I worked quite quickly to capture the essence of what I was looking at.

I’d taken a big A2 board to draw and paint on, and I did have quite a bit of kit with me, so it was much easier to use Oxcombe as a base and not stray too far from my car.

Whenever I get outside like this, I think I must do this more….. It’s a real slowing down, noticing what you’re looking at, I find it quite meditative.

Just that one session has inspired a whole series of paintings! I will be doing more painting outside!