Two week in the Isles of Scilly remain a firm favourite and next year is already booked. Generally the weather was OK, it rained all day only twice, otherwise it was a mix of cloud and sun. In the first week we had some high winds in the fist week. The overriding feature was that it much colder than usual for the time of year (never worn my hiking beanie in Scilly, in June before) but it didn’t stop the sea swimming (14 degrees in the water – invigorating).
From a paining perspective it is not without its challenges – day trips to the off islands (Agnes, Tresco, Bryher and St Martins) are dependant on boat times; in the middle of the day shadows are short, and as the sum moves from east to west, across noon the shadows change over. However the sea affects the light and is always changing and there is no shortage of exciting subject matter. The two days wiped out by rain allowed two 16 x 12 pictures to be completed inside. Although these had to be done from sketches and photos I find that being in the place still helps.
First rainy day; Newford Island from Thomas Porth; late afternoon/early evening, source material gathered after swimming, painted on the following rainy day. 16×12 Watercolour, wax crayon, inks
Second rainy day; Bar Point is the most northern bit of St Mary’s facing out into Crow Sound so we can see Guthers Island in the sound and the edge of Tresco on the left of the picture. The hedge actually had wild privet, Bears breech and Peruvian lilies (which must have escaped from a garden) although I admit to exaggerating their closeness and proximity to each other. 16×12 Watercolour
An en plain air painting. Fishing boat SC6 in Porthloo boatyard, 16×12 Watercolour, wax crayon, inks.
I had to find a place sheltered from the wind to set up the easel. I had done a detailed sketch of this boat in the morning (see below) but changed the viewpoint for this afternoon en plain air painting because of the way the shadows changed over.
As I said in my last blog I have taken to doing small en plain air sketches in ink and watercolour and I carried this on during these two weeks. All of the following are 10×7 on rough paper taking about an hour each.
And finally, extracts from my notebooks – including the morning sketch of SC6 (above) on page 1
