Evening Light, Chelsea Riverside (19) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Oil on Board

This particular one is number 19 of my series of paintings and drawings of the Chelsea Riverside.


This is a view I really love and I like the way the colours explode when the sun goes down around the Chelsea Moorings.

Evening Light, Chelsea Riverside (19) Chelsea Marathon, 10" x 8", Oil on Board

The reflections are another great feature of this area when the sun is either going up or coming down.

The Initial Sketch- I have made sure that I get the drawing right, I always feel the painting has more hope to succeed when the drawing is right. This is vital!

To capture the light is always the goal and keeping the painting fresh and simplified!

Mid-Way through- I have worked with the "outside-in" technique here blocking in everything from the outside, all the broad shapes and then finishing inside with the details

SPECIAL QUOTE
"More important than talent is desire-The willingness to take the time and make the effort to paint and paint and paint until painting becomes almost second nature."- Harley Brown

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Late Afternoon Light Reflections, Albert Bridge, 8" x 10", Oil on Board (Plein air)

This is another one in the reflections series.

My studio is very close to Albert Bridge and every now and then I pop down to do a painting. It's a nice experience, The River Thames never ceases to be one of those spots I just can't get enough of.

Late Afternoon Light Reflections, Albert Bridge, 8" x 10", Oil on Board

 TO BUY THIS PAINTING PLEASE CLICK HERE

I started this one with a very detailed drawing as can  be seen below. There was so much to see that I needed to be careful to make sure everything was in the right place.

The beginning, my very detailed approach, I sketch with pencil on the board, measuring was vital.

I didn't take much stage shots but I  had a photo of the final stage before I called it quits.

The full set up

SPECIAL QUOTE
"Once we make a decision to do a thing, the means appear......"-Andrew Matthews

Spring Reflections, Oliver's Island- Strand on the Green, 8" x 10", Oil on Board, (Plein Air)

Spring Reflections,  Oliver's Island -Strand on The Green, 8" x 10" , Oil on Board

 TO BUY THIS PAINTING, PLEASE CLICK HERE

I am continuing a series of paintings on reflections and this was painting was done on a wonderful day out with members of the ROI at Strand on the Green, I really enjoyed painting this scene and it was a great experience because I was able to sit down under a shady tree without much distractions but most importantly, the light remain constant for most of the day.

The Scene and the set up.

SPECIAL QUOTE
"Once the painting becomes a burden and you just don't know what to do, don't fiddle, STOP!!"-Adebanji Alade

Morning Light Albert Bridge, From Battersea Bridge, Oil on Board, 6" x 8" ( The Plein Air Process)

This is a plein air piece I embarked on on a breezy Saturday morning last week.

Morning Light Albert Bridge, From Battersea Bridge, Oil on Canvas, 6" x 8" SOLD

 TO PURCHASE THIS PAINTING CLICK HERE

I tried my best to take some stage shots to explain the "Outside -in" technique (where I cover the whole surface fairly quickly and work into it). I mostly use the "Inside-Out" Technique (where I start from the inside of the surface and work my way out)

Adebanji painting the scene- I sometimes sing while I paint!

This was quite tricky because the scene started with lots of water around the boats then all of a sudden, most of the water disappeared and I was left struggling to adjust the scene and painting the mud. But the light shone through and its effect on the mud made the piece interesting.

Stage 1- All the colours lined up, fresh and nice. Order is vital, it helps to know exactly where each colour is.  Sometimes I increase the speed at which I work and it's always nice to know I'm dipping into the right colour. I have a some drops of Liquin to help in fast drying. It's a grey day and I'm not really bothered about this, I'll try to work in some colours into the piece.

Stage 2- With very diluted Liquin I quickly start the sketching of the basic structures -the bridge, the boats and the background foliage and foreground trees. This is just about putting things in the right places.

Stage 3- Here I begin to cover the surface with the larger elements, which are sea and sky, all the surface is covered at this point.

Stage 4- At this stage I start making each component more definite. The little details that matter

.

 

Stage 5- The water started vanishing away from around the area where the boats were positioned and kept drying up as the sun came out! I had to quickly adjust my painting to suit the change. This is not something I do very often but because this surface is so small, I could take the risk.

Final Stage 6- with the Full Set-up-This is when I had to stop, you can see that the river  has completely gone far back and the boats are almost on dry land. It's always good to be flexible in handling these tricky changing events while painting outdoors

SPECIAL QUOTE
Just get out there and paint, forget about the wind, the rain, the snow or the biting cold! They all seem to vanish when we start painting!"-Adebanji Alade

Plein Air Painting of MV Bolgen & other Boats at Cadogan Pier

MV Bolgen & other boats at Cadogan Pier, Chelsea Embankment, 18" x 10", Oil on Canvas Board, 2012-picture taken with my  I-Phone-sorry about the quality.

This morning I embarked on painting one of my beloved scenes around the Chelsea Embankment. A walk along the Chelsea Embankment is one of my best walks in London and it's always great to paint a place one loves.

Adebanji painting the MV Bolgen and other boats along Cadogan Pier, Chelsea Embankment

Here in this post I have decided to share some "stage shots" of the painting in progress. It's not a step by step procedure but just a good way of seeing how I go about these pieces using the "inside-out" technique of painting shape by shape, from the inside of the painting till it spreads all over to fill up the surface.

1. Ready to go, The Canvas board is given a warm wash of Burnt Sienna, this was already done in the studio with acrylic.

2. The very important grid lines and diagonals-this helps me position the main  features exactly where I want them

3. With some careful strokes laid with some precision but with the mind of an impressionist, I sketch and paint at the same time, working on the boring buildings in the background first, and then coming closer to the boats.

4. I think here-I had finally got the hang of the buildings and then I began to gradually come lower into the middle area, where most of the action takes place. 

5. At this stage I got the first few strokes of the water in, and a few reflections, the water keeps changing, it's always better when it is still.

6. I am really deep into it now, working on the reflections and trying my best to nail the right colour of the murky River  Thames on a grey day.

7. And finally- it's details and pulling the whole piece together, I hadn't made up my mind on whether to stop-then the rain came to my rescue and that was it for the day!

Hope you enjoyed this-I always have fun looking over the palettes of other artists-it's always a treat!

SPECIAL QUOTE
"The tide was in and the creek glassy, so I met the Mayor of Kingsbridge, who was off to paint his boat and a man who quizzed me- not the first time- on the build quality of my box easel! He was a joiner and was redesigning one-god, did I get excited! We exchanged emails and I never heard from him again!-(Peter Brown on one of his experiences while painting "Salcombe down from Southpool Creek")

The Plein Air Brotherhood

The effect of "like-minds"are powerful and when people with the same vision and drive come together to form a group the results are always explosive! The Plein Air Brotherhood is such a group. We came together to form this group because we believe so strongly in Plein Air work and the sheer joy that painting outdoor brings! Roy Connelly got the group going and growing, he says, he sees us pursuing a common goal of high quality figurative painting from direct observation.
Earlier this year we all decided to have our first exhibition and I was really glad when A & K Wilson Gallery in Harpenden decided to host our paintings! I traveled to Harpenden, Henley and Chiswick to get some of the paintings in this exhibition done and also from my local studio area at Chelsea. The rest of the group have paintings from all over the UK, painted entirely outdoors under all weather conditions. To see the complete works in the exhibition click HERE



THE PAINTERS



ADEBANJI ALADE

MY PAINTING DVD is now out! (Behind the scenes shots)

The DVD is now out! Its ready and you can now place your orders with Town House Films. I have watched it and it's gonna be great for anyone who'll like see what goes through my mind when I paint and how I have used 4 different techniques to start 4 different paintings all done on the spot at Cromer!



Here are loads of pictures behind the scenes, enjoy!

















In my next post, I'll be giving you an update on my exhibition with the lessons I have learnt from the 3rd and 4th Marathon! The works are already being bought even before the Private View! Now you tell I'm really happy!