Riding the Rain on Stage 12

I look forward to rainy stages! There are dramatic scenes, reflections on the roads, and rising steam! Somehow I don't think the riders love it that much!

Watercolour and guache on paper;
30 x 42cm, Sold.

Forever Winning, This Team

Another painting from Le Tour de France. This is from the team trials, where eight riders rode to win. No competition on the road, just the clock! I have deliberately left off the colours, just to add to the mystery...!

Sold.

Le Tour de France – The Breakaway Through The Crowds

I've been painting Le Tour de France for a few years now, and I'm constantly trying to improve my technique. This is a slightly 'looser' impression than previous efforts, so I'm happy to post it here in my blog.

$120 plus postage.

email shirleypeters@me.com

Storm Brewing at Nattai Mines

24 x 32cm Acrylic on Paper

While travelling (not far from Sydney) I have been painting each night in the van, using photos and sketches from the day's adventures. No plein air for me at the moment!! The temp is too close to zero out there!

$150 + $20 packing & postage

"On the Road"

"On the Road": a painting of three early leaders in Le Tour de France. Painted today, from a scene recorded last year. The race does not start until Saturday.. can't wait!!

Sold 

The Lights of Le Tour

Le Tour de France starts soon, and I'm doing some pre-race exercises! I start with watercolour, and then throw in acrylic to toughen up the colours. 

I love this scene showing two anonymous riders being pushed along by the camera crew and support vehicle. They are at the "tête de la course".

Sold

Rock Garden

The wild bushland behind my home has areas of 'garden' that look designed. 

Acrylic on Saunders Watercolour Paper, 43cm x 58cm. 

Sold

Storm Afternoon

Many layers are sacrificed in the creation of this painting! I started with a watercolour of carefully drawn trees; then worked over, and over with acrylic colours and calligraphy. Lots of fun.

Sold

Blue Foliage

Having just visited a recently storm-ravaged beach I am working on a series that depicts the visible destruction. The trees were torn apart and thrown down by the winds. I don't know how the local caravans would have survived.

This is watercolour and acrylic on paper, unframed.

Town Travel

It's almost time for my annual obsession: Le Tour de France.
So I found myself watching the Paris-Roubaix at Easter. What a tough one-day race that is!

Watercolour on Paper, White mat, black frame, non-reflective glass.
FRAMED: Internal image size: 54 x 38 cm
Available: $450 plus postage.

First visit was a total wash out!

Here is the view of the rain that ruined my first day of "plain-air". It had been sunny at first, when I climbed down to my neighbours dam. Then the clouds blew in, and the heavens opened!

Here is the result of the downpour! I like minimalism, but this not only washed off the canvas, the actual stretcher was distorting. The trees were not thick enough to hide under, so it became drenched! (I had an umbrella, but it wasn't big enough for the both of us!)

Next visit proved a lovely sunny day. As did the third. Eventually I was satisfied with my work, and was very glad to walk back home for the last time. The route to the dam is via an old fire track. It is very washed away, and only rocks remain. No vehicle could go down that track at the moment, and it was a good workout for me to have to carry a canvas and paints there and back. 

It's also a very isolated dam: and I've been watching too many murder shows lately. The iPhone is "SOS" only... so I'm glad no one appeared out of the bushes to 'do me in"!! Funny enough, I never think of snakes... a much more likely threat!

Silence After Noon

I had to trek deep into the gully behind my house in Mulgoa for this project. Three times I visited.. the first time was a total wash-out, with the sunny day turning dark and stormy, and the rain bucketing down!! The wet acrylic paint washed off the surface, and I was left with some minimalist marks.
On the second trip I forgot my palette, so I had to use paint squeezed straight from the tubes. It produced some interesting, strong colours!
The third time was OK. The air was so still, the sun started setting behind the trees and the water turned dark and glassy. 

So I have a lot of emotion tied up with this work, not to mention sweat and tears from the (climbing) downs and ups!

"Silence After Noon" by Shirley Peters

Acrylic on Canvas 

Landscape

90 cm x 90 cm

NFS

"At The Bend"

This small waterhole was a surprise find when my sister Barbara and I were walking in the wild bushland. We had had rain, and it was great to see the bush greening up. I had three visits to the site (twice with the large canvas, and once just to photograph).

AUS $1600 
plus postage within Australia and international.

"Light on the Floor": see "technique" page for progress photos.

I painted this work over two sessions: both in the afternoon.
In fact, it was a bit hot today, and although I wear sunscreen, I feel a tad burnt! (I was wearing a hat though! :))
I love dramatic shadows of this view, and the messy forest floor is a fun, graphic subject.

I have taken progress photos which can be seen on another page in this blog.

Backyard Dam at Mulgoa

I have an amazing new 'back yard' with a chook shed and a dam, and an acre of natural bush. So my next few painting subjects will be close to home! Here is the dam. It has a slow leak, and therefore goes down then up, depending on the recent rainfall. Fortunately we don't need it for anything practical, so the level is not important. Yesterday I saw a tortoise in it! I thought it was a dinner plate under the water, until it swam away! We suspect there are yabbies in there as well, as the occasional crab-like claw has been found on the muddy edge.

I painted this 'en plain air' painting over a few days. I had many attempts... but each time I worked on it the light changed in temperature and position. So I see it as a conglomerate of four days over summer.

Running Cool and Deep

I loved the tall, soft grass and the intense detail in the foliage in this view at Macquarie Woods. But it was very hot, and I had set up my table in the open very early. Soon the sun was overhead and I was sweltering! And the acrylic paint was drying as it touched the canvas.

So the finishing was done on my verandah, this afternoon.

I can't use my studio yet, as it is not finished! I have pics of its progress on my other blog: onepaintingeveryotherday.blogspot.com.au.

"Running Cool and Deep" by Shirley Peters

Acrylic on Canvas

60cm x 90cm

Gold Light in the Afternoon

Macquarie Woods, NSW, is a 'demonstration' pine plantation in country NSW. A section of the property is reserved for camping. We spent our first night there in our brand-new motorhome. There were no facilities like electricity or wi-fi. It was just us, parked beside this small lake. 

The warm afternoon light on the distant hills, and the large expanse of reflective water was so inviting, I painted it till sunset.

We had a steep leaning curve that night: parking on a level spot was important if you wanted a good night's sleep. Also the electrical outlets didn't work if your van is not plugged in to 240 volts: so no coffee!

"Gold Light in the Afternoon"

by Shirley Peters

Acrylic on Watercolor Paper 300gsm 50cm x 38cm

Breakaway Caught

Le Tour de France

Watercolour painting 

Approx 24 x 32cm on paper
Sold

The tour is over, but I'm still addicted to painting the riders and the action.

"On Their Own"

This is one of my annual series of Le Tour de France paintings. 

I try to paint at least one every day of the tour.

If you want to see me painting, search for my name, and you will find me in an episode of "Colour in Your Life".

Watercolor on paper 24 cm x 32 cm (9.4" x 12.6")

Available on

ebay

Giant-Shimano Team Joy

An Original Painting of Le Tour de France

by Shirley Peters

Perfect finish for Kittel is being celebrated by his lead out man at the back. Very exciting!!

Watercolor on paper 24 cm x 32 cm (9.4" x 12.6")

Posted Flat, supported with foam core board.

Painted on 8th July 2014

This is the second in my annual series of Le Tour de France paintings. 

I try to paint at least one every day of the tour.

If you want to see me painting, search for my name, and you will find me in an episode of "Colour in Your Life".

Sold

Stage 2- On The Turn

An Original Painting of Le Tour de France

by Shirley Peters

Stage two was spectacular: such huge crowds! And a frantic pace in the last half of the race.

This view of a breakaway cyclist typifies the individual nature of cycling: 

such personal effort as shown here, even though it is a team event.

Watercolor on paper 24 cm x 32 cm (9.4" x 12.6")

Posted Flat, supported with foam core board.

Painted on 8th July 2014

This is the second in my annual series of Le Tour de France paintings. 

I try to paint at least one every day of the tour.

If you want to see me painting, search for my name, and you will find me in an episode of "Colour in Your Life".

Sold 

PS: The painting will fit a standard Ikea frame. "Riba"

Big brush easy painting technique

Graeme Stevenson's TV show (Season 7 episode 11) featuring ME! Who'd a thought?

My painting demo on TV (in Australia)

Just a quick post to say that I will be on TV on Sunday night (Eastern Australian Time +10), painting  a view of the harbour from Lavender Bay. The show is called "Colour in Your Life" and it is on Free-to-Air  Channel 4ME at 6.30 pm But you can watch it (now or anytime) from the Colour In Your Life web site: http://www.colourinyourlife.com.au/tv-show/item/264-shirley-peters

The Traverse

I have been retouching this work that I started in 2010. It was spotted on my web site, and requested by email. It's Murphy's Law that if you remove only some paintings from their stretchers and roll the canvases for storage, one of these paintings will be chosen for viewing by a client!! So I stapled it back onto a stretcher, and delivered it to the new home to see if they liked it. They did, so I fetched it back, retouched the paintwork to my now higher standard, and it's ready to be professionally framed.  I really like the subject, as it is where I used to ski in Perisher, NSW. So glad that it is going to a new, stylish home.

Size: 150cm x 95cm (approx) Oil on Canvas. Sold.

30 minutes of fame!!

"Colour in my Life"

Here I am being filmed by a TV production company 

that makes the "Colour in Your Life"  TV Series. 

My episode will be aired June 15th 2014. 

Initially I was going to be painting in our boat: but it ended up being too small for the crew, so I arrived and left via the boat, and painted on the shore. It was fun chatting to the host, Graeme Stevenson, while I was painting. But, I have no idea how it will turn out!

After Warm

Watercolour 54 cm x 38 cm
We left the main highway between Bathurst and Orange, 

and travelled up a lane at Macquarie Wood. (NSW Australia) 

We discovered this wide vista beyond the rise. The sun was low, but strong.

Boats on Sydney Harbour

Had such fun painting this from our small boat.

Acrylic on paper: 30 cm x 40cm (approx) Seascape

Bondi Beach

I have a 'plein air' harbour painting on my wall at the moment, and it lifts me when I look at the bright colours and splashes of paint. I think that these are 'slap happy' paintings.

This Bondi Beach is one of my favourites: painted on a large sheet of watercolour paper, which I then mount onto canvas. I will be describing my 'mount' technique soon. I think it's a winner, so I'll share. :)

www.galleryv.com.au

Settler's Arms Inn, St Albans

Nestled in a valley between large mountains sits an old Inn, a popular destination for day trips from Sydney. I was there last Sunday, and I painted "en plein air" from the beer garden.

Watercolour 32 x 40cm (approx)

Boat Studio

It's taken almost a lifetime, but we have finally bought a small boat. Which I am using as a floating easel. Here I am painting the Gladesville Bridge. I have used big brushes for the main areas. This little brush is just the finishing accents in white.

(above) Finished painting: I try not to touch it again, so that it retains the freshness of the "Plein Air"...

And of course, it is always an inaccurate rendering of the real thing! In hindsight, and with the benefit of photography, I can see that I have exaggerated the bridge. Ha, obviously it seemed more important to me! But I don't mind being 'wrong', as that shows a personal interpretation of the scene. 

Same beach, same scene

This alcove was just made for me! It is a viewing platform on the road beside Bondi Beach. I spread out a plastic sheet and start painting the surf.  Perfect!

But at the moment my dilemma is how to frame or mount the large paintings. They are on watercolour paper (185gsm) which is tough, but needs a heavy perspex frame.

I am going to try mounting the paper onto canvas using lots of wet bondcrete.

Fingers crossed!

Bondi Beach under the Sun

Bob and I visited Bondi yesterday for some fresh-air painting, but I only managed a sketch. It was hot, busy, and I did not have any swimmers with me!

So I did a sketch, painted it up last night with watercolour, and will go back later today on my own. One thing: the colours really were this bright. I took lots of photos with the 'good' Canon, just in case the weather turned and I was unable to return. It takes about 30 minutes to get through the traffic from home to the beach. 

On a related topic, I have to go to the skin-cancer-clinic for a check-up today.  Aussies are supposed to have very high skin-cancer victims. Our fair skin under 6 months of burning sun rays.

Watercolour on paper
38cm x 37cm 

Ebb Tide

Watercolour 42 x 59cm

Mangroves have inner beauty. Old and spindly, they cope with everything

the river throws up.. so to speak.

Turning Tide

This is a possible new direction for me: It is watercolour, but is also an unusual composition.

It was the pale light shining through the pale trunks that attracted me. I photographed it just after a king tide, where the water had flooded over the path. Please leave a comment if you like... :)

42 cm x 60 cm

Watercolor on paper

The Hidden Beach

I was exploring my favourite park for some painting inspiration, and I discovered a sandy beach section, with moss covered rocks, and sea shells! This is the Parramatta river, about 13 km in from the sea. I was taking lots of shots, and a big cloud appeared from the west.
I used one of these pics for a demonstration painting at The Castle Hill Art Society last night, and this is my result.
Acrylic on paper about 60 cm x 100 cm.

River Life

This is a view from Putney Park. (warming up for a demo on Wed. night.)
River Life. 
Acrylic on paper 58 x 78cm

Huge Fig Tree

This tree was very big, and very old. 

It lives in a park near my house in Putney.

I have not noticed it before, but I will make up for

 that oversight with a lot of attention in the future!

40cm x 60cm

Acrylic on paper

Summer Hues at the Point

My house is near a river, which is actually the western edge of Sydney Harbour. We have many parks along its edge, and lately I have joined with a few other artists to paint in these parks in the hot sunshine! Today was perfect weather, with a cool breeze. This work is on canvas, but not stretched. My Facebook page shows an "in situ" photograph. It will be shown in my next exhibition on May 1.

Sydney, Australia

Acrylic on canvas

80 x 97cm

Summer Rain

I painted "Summer Rain" for a demonstration at my local art society.

It is acrylic on paper, and executed like a watercolour.

I wanted to represent a different weather event 

from the normal sunny, bright days.

90 x 55cm (approx)

Sydney Daylight

Charcoal sketch and painting from the Observatory Hill in Sydney. 

Unlike last time (in the bandstand) I was positioned out on the grass, and at times I had whole bus loads of tourists behind me! 

It was quite a challenge to maintain concentration. There were little children up close, so engrossed and watching every stroke. (I use big house brushes.)

But I chatted with lots of people and it was fun: like when you are walking a dog, everyone is much friendlier.

"Sydney Daylight"

55 x 90cm

Acrylic on paper

Charcoal study

44 x 50cm

Available at my next Gallery V show opening May 1