The weather forecast for the past few days has been consistently promising rain. It probably will rain.

I am committed to painting outdoors every day this year, rain or shine. It is about to get interesting.

You dear friends are not, but even so, part of my promise to you and this group is that we would all have the opportunity to paint together at 2 pm every
Sunday, except when I'm out of town or overseas.

With this in mind, I have been thinking that on rainy days we could paint downtown under the shelter of the shop verandas. There are not usually a lot of people around on a wet Sunday afternoon. It could be a good time to study buildings, vehicles, and umbrellas. Heh.

This Sunday I suggest that we meet at Montgomery Square, near Whitcouls. If the day is fine, or the rain has passed, we can perhaps go on to Anzac Reserve.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Sunday 22 March. Montgomery Square.

Sunday 15th March.

Monaco again.

See you there at 2 pm.

Cheers!

Ross


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday 8 March

I thought that it would be nice to explore the sea side again.
We can meet at the end of the Monaco peninsular. There is a nice little coffee bar there.
I painted there this week.
See you at 2pm

Cheers, Ross

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Hermit lsland

The Waimea Estuary is huge. One of the biggest in New Zealand. I believe that there are hundreds of islands, some quite large, like Rabbit Island, and many very small, like this one, just of the end of Monaco, the peninsular suburb of Nelson.

This little Island, barely a hectare at high tide, has this ramshackle dwelling tucked behind some low growing coastal trees and shrubs. I don't know if anyone in fact lives there, but one passing local told me once, "That's where the hermit lives."

This may be so, or not, as the case may be, but I know if I ever felt a compelling urge to do the hermit thing, I can't imagine a more interesting and evocative setting.

Actually, I don't know what a hermit does. Do they sit and watch the tides come and go? Watch the seagull quarrelling over fishy remnants? No newspapers. That could be a blessing. I could read all the great books I promised myself I would read before I grew old.

But no. Probably not. I'd most likely continue to paint en plein air every day. Without distractions perhaps even twice a day. Now there's a thought...



15060. "Hermit Island." Oil on panel. 12x9 in. $150.

Any painting from this blog may be purchased by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz

Posted using BlogPress from my

Back at Rabbit Island

Today was a lovely sunny day, with a rising tide. I had to go out to Richmond on business, so afterwards I continued on to Rabbit Island. It has some wonderful views, and shady sheltered spots where you can set up and paint in relative comfort.

I don't know why, but I have very seldom been bothered by sand flies here over the years.

A very interesting collection of natives and exotics. Many pines, some very old and gnarled, a lot of mature eucalypts, and of course, regenerating scrub.




15057. "Rabbit Island, Rising Tide". Oil on panel. 8x10in. $150

Any painting from this blog may be purchased by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Plein air Sunday 1 March

Autumn is upon us. I note that the willows have all gone golden up the Maitai, and some have almost half their leaves gone too. One strong wind and it's all over for them.

Branford Park is turning now, but it will be a couple of weeks at least before it reaches it's full autumn glory.

I love the autumn colours. It allows me to put all the cadmiums on my palette.

As you probably are aware I'm a great believer in limiting myself to three primaries for most of my work, but autumn is different. Autumn is special. Touches of pure pigment straight from the tube. Yum!

I will write some time soon about the joy of paint, and the seduction of colour.

For now I will only mention in passing that today when I was painting the glorious flower beds in the Queens Gardens I really really missed my dioxidine purple. I haven't thought about that colour for nearly a year. Last autumn actually.

So there you are. We will meet in the Rose Garden on Sunday, 2pm, and look for the last of this summer's blooms...




- "Rose Garden, in the Queen's Gardens".

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday 22 February.

Oops. Apologies.

I just checked and see that I have not posted this week

We have agreed to go back to the old ship again, before she is taken away, probably next month.

2pm. Miss Otago.

Ross


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad