sharonouldart

[sharonouldart]

I've just finished this painting that I started last month, it's a view looking down towards 'Steephill Cove' a favourite spot of mine in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. This painting was inspired by a photo I took one late afternoon around the beginning of February a couple of years ago, we'd been out walking our dog and as I walked back up the hill I turned around and saw the sun's rays poking through the clouds, I've been meaning to paint this scene ever since. I've used watercolour paint and then added some pastel over the top in a few areas. If you are interested in buying this painting I've decided to add it to my Etsy shop, it's called 'Steephill Sunburst' the link is in my bio. Thanks for reading! #steephillcoveisleofwight #steephillcove #sunburst #steephillsunburst #colourful #kaleidoscopic #concoctionofcolour #sunset #coastalpainting #thelighthouse #isleofwightartist #isleofwightart #artworkforsale (at Isle of Wight) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpM-TiMoCX4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

I seem to be obsessed with three things at the moment, watercolour painting, dramatic skies and Steephill Cove, so I'm sorry but here's more Steephill Cove paintings! I have been having fun messing about with watercolour again this month and I've fallen in love with it all over again. I love the unpredictability of it and how the paint can blend and merge to create these wonderful kaleidoscopic concoctions of colour. I've noticed I'm drawn to big, dramatic skies too, I just love the feeling I get when I look at them, the serenity, the delight and escapism. So I've been combining these three loves and this is what has resulted so far this month. I was also interested to see if there was a specific name for people who like dramatic skies and I was intrigued to find a whole host of names for various things. Did you know that a person who loves skies is called an 'Astrophile'? Though I think this refers more to a person who loves stars and astronomy, here's a list of a few more if you are interested: Ceraunophile: a person who loves thunder and lightning Chionophile: a person who loves cold weather, snow Heliophile: a lover of the sun Selenophile: a person who loves the moon Nyctophile: a person who loves night or darkness Photophile: a person who loves light Pluviophile: a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days Nephophile: a person who loves clouds; has fondness or obsession of clouds Logophile: a lover of words Opacarophile: a lover of sunsets Dendrophile: a lover of trees Melophile: a lover of music I've come to the conclusion that I am a lover of a lot of these things but I've decided to create my own word for someone who likes dramatic skies (as there doesn't appear to be one) 'Heavenophile'! Which one are you and how does it make you feel? Or which one would you be if you could make one up and why? #watercolourpaintings #watercolourpaintings🎨 #kaleidoscopicconcoctionsofcolour #steephillcoveiow #steephillcove #isleofwightartist #astrophile #ceraunophile⚡️ #chionophile❄️ #heliophile #selenophile🌛 #nyctophile #photophile #pluviophile☔️ #nephophile☁️ #logophile #opacarophile #dendrophile🌴❤️ #melophile🎶 (at Isle of Wight) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoFa9uCIbp8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

Some lovely paintings on show at the '38th Landscape Paintings of the Isle of Wight' Annual Exhibition at Ventnor Botanic Gardens. If you get a chance it's well worth a visit, it's on now until 3pm on Sunday 11th December. I was pleased as punch to find out that one of my paintings has been highly commended. #isleofwightartist #isleofwightartists #landscapepaintingsoftheisleofwight #ventnorbotanicgardens #ventnorbotanicgarden #artworkforsale #artexhibition (at Ventnor Botanic Garden) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl80h13IPYj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

All set up for the Quay Arts Christmas Cracker Weekend event, open 9am-5pm. I''m upstairs in the West Gallery along with lots of other crafty people! Do pop along if you can. Ps I'm in the little room right at the back please come and find me! #christmasfair #christmasmarket #quayartscentre #quayartsisleofwight #supportsmallbusiness #smallbusinesssaturday (at Quay Arts) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cls7E0gjniH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

My husband always seems to make a beeline for the highest point of anywhere we visit, last Tuesday was no exception, we headed for Pentre Ifan a Neolithic burial chamber with a precariously balanced stone slab and then on to an aptly named car park at Bwlch-Gwynt (meaning windy gap) to walk up Foel Eryr in the Preseli Hills in Wales. As we got there the weather closed in and suddenly we were shrouded in mist and squally showers. After waiting in the car for about half an hour for the rain to pass we decided to brave it and head up Foel Eryr which is the second highest peak at 468 metres. Thankfully and luckily for me my husband was content with walking to the second most highest point! As we battled with the wind on the ascent I have to admit I was thinking to myself and questioning my husband as to why we were even bothering to climb this peak as we could see nothing but cloud all around us and it felt pretty grim, even our dog wanted to head back to the comfort of the car! Then as if by magic the sun seemed to break through the cloud just as we reached the summit and we were rewarded with spectacular views all around. This watercolour painting is taken from a photo (see second to last photo) I took at the top looking towards Newcastle Emlyn close to where we were staying and just at the very right hand edge of my picture going out of shot is the highest point Foel Cwmcerwyn at 536 metres. Foel Eryr means 'Hill of Eagle', though sadly we didn't see any eagles, apparently they are no longer resident here. But I've decided to call this picture after this hill and you can see why as you can see for miles (on a clear day!) it's as if you are seeing what an Eagle might see soaring through the sky. The first image is my rough watercolour sketch which I hope to use to create a bigger painting, continue to scroll across if you'd like to see some photos I took that day... #PentreIfan #welshlandscape #preselihills #Pembrokeshire #Wales #BwlchGwynt #FoelEryr #stunning views #watercolourpainting #inspirationalplaces #highestpoint #halftermbreak #isleofwightartist #sharonouldart (at Preseli Mountain Top) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkY8W1cLgFC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

Typical...got a day to paint but light today is rubbish so have given up for now! Experimenting again...progress so far. #rubbishlight #progressionfar #experimenting #drearyday (at Isle of Wight) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj7nLTioq3C/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

It's been so good to get painting again this month and what better way to start than with one of my favourite places on the Island, Steephill Cove. Unfortunately I haven't quite been able to finish this painting yet, think I still need to tweak a few bits but I'm nearly there. I'm quite pleased with how it's progressing though, I like the mood that has been created and I like the colours and how the light is reflected through the painting from the sky into the foreground lines of the sand waves. I also like the zig zag composition which leads your eye through the painting. I also feel that I have inadvertently added three spots which Edgar Payne talks about in his book 'Composition of Outdoor Painting' which also help in this paintings composition, I feel they are the sun itself, the distant cliff and the reflection of a rock in the foreground water, they form a triangle and help to balance the picture. Painting the sand waves was quite a challenge but I like the repetition and pattern they create, apparently when we look at pictures our brain automatically looks for patterns. Scroll to see progress shots so far... #steephillcove #isleofwight #coastalscenery #seascape #sunset #sundown #workinprogress #isleofwightart #isleofwightartist #watermixableoilpaint #watermixableoil (at Isle of Wight) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjJBoGJrxID/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

Remember this one? I decided to add some pastel over the top of the watercolour after all. I can't help it, I just love colour! "Colour is a power which directly influences the soul" Wassily Kandinsky #addictedtocolour #colouraddiction #watercolour #pastel #mixedmediapainting #ventnorharbour #ventnorisleofwight #artforsale #isleofwightartist (at Isle of Wight) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci5XvVcDQSg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

Tomorrow, Saturday 17th September, I will be at the East Cowes Town Hall again for another of their market days, there will be a range of craft stalls and makers, so if you happen to be in the locality do pop along. Doors open to the public at 12.30pm and close at 4pm. I will be selling my prints, cards, some original paintings and ta da! 'The Isle of Wight Artists' Calendar 2023' of which I am lucky enough to have had three paintings chosen to feature. Unfortunately I have only got two copies left though as I sold the rest at my Open Studios in the summer, so if you would like one you will need to get in quick! It's a lovely calendar that celebrates Isle of Wight landscape artists; the calendar contains artist contact information, local history and event dates and would make an ideal Christmas present for anyone who's already getting organised for Christmas plus it's a present that lasts all year round or longer if you cut the image out and frame it! The calendars are £10 each, but don't worry if you can't get hold of one of mine as they are also available at various outlets across the Island including Cavanagh and Baker in Shanklin, Brownriggs Farm Shop near Godshill, Quay Arts Centre and IOW Traders in Newport. Scroll to see my three pictures that were chosen to be featured. #marketdaysiow #artworkforsale #isleofwightartistscalendar2023 #earlychristmasgiftidea #shoplocally #support local #supportmarkets #eastcowes #eastcowesisleofwight #eastcowesmonthlymarket #isleofwightmakers #supportsmallbusiness #isleofwightart #isleofwightartist (at Isle of Wight) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cikq-a7L-iz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

I've just returned from a big family holiday (there was 15 of us altogether plus a dog!) where we hired a rambling old house in the Peak District. As you can imagine I was in my element with inspiration in abundance everywhere I looked. The old house resembled somewhere out of a period drama and the surrounding rolling countryside was absolutely spectacular too, so needless to say my painting this month is a view from one of the many walks I went on, it's a very quick watercolour sketch looking down over to Chapel-en-le-Frith which is near where we stayed. Apparently the town was established by the Norman's in the 12th century, originally as a hunting lodge within the Forest of High Peak. This led to the French-derived name Chapel-en-le-Frith meaning 'chapel in the forest'. Although quickly and simply painted, I love the rhythm and repetition that appears in this painting which helps draw your eye around the page. I can't wait to get back into the full swing of painting next month, I'm bursting with painting ideas, but for now here's a snippet of some holiday pictures and my watercolour sketch if you're interested. #watercolour #watercoloursketch #watercolourpainting #isleofwightartist #sharonouldart #chapelenlefrith #peakdistrict #peakdistrictnationalpark #rollingcountryside #spectacularscenery #landscapepainting #rhythm #repetition (at Isle of Wight) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch7X9lHDAQl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

Thank you again to all the lovely people that visited my Open Studios this month it was great to welcome so many wonderful visitors and share my artwork with them and get such positive feedback and I'm so grateful for all of the people that bought from me, it gives me such a buzz and makes it all so worthwhile. I'm already thinking about all the paintings I want to create for next year's event. But for now I'm going to be taking a short break for the rest of the summer and try and catch up on all the jobs I've neglected around the house including gardening, tidying and some painting of other sorts ie decorating! Though I have managed to start this painting of Ventnor Harbour this month but not sure whether I've spoilt it by continuing to work on it. What do you think? 🤔 Should I stop now, add some pastel or start again? #watercolour #watercolourpainting #isleofwightopenstudios #isleofwightartist #sharonouldart #ventnorharbour #ventnor #isleofwight #seascape #coastalpainting #sunset # settingsun #colour #workinprogressart #workinprogress https://www.instagram.com/p/CgrVavijebT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

Although the Isle of Wight Open Studios has come to an end for this year, the Open Studios Showcase Exhibition is still on at the @quayarts Centre, Newport, Isle of Wight until Saturday 6th August. I have my painting 'Hope on the Horizon' displayed amongst the many other exhibits still on show so if you're in Newport why not pop in and have a butcher's! #isleofwightopenstudios #isleofwightopenstudios2022 #quayarts #quayartsisleofwight #quayartscentre #isleofwightartists #artworkforsale #showcaseexhibition (at Isle of Wight) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cggw109DeFq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

Please scroll to see all of the artists that will be participating in this years Isle of Wight Open Studios Event. Unfortunately the yearbook and promotional posters and flyers that usually accompany this event have not been printed this year due to unforeseen circumstances, however thanks to @seacycle_studio, @deejavuart and @the_imaginarium_one we now have the following pages containing a map locating where the artists' will be, along with the lists of artists and craft people and the dates and times they will be open. Printable versions in colour and black and white are available to download and print if you wish from www.theimaginarium.one/OSdownloads. We would all really appreciate it if you can like, share and support this event as much as possible 🙏 A massive thank you to @the_imaginarium_one for compiling this at such short notice. #isleofwightopenstudios2022 #isleofwightartists #isleofwightcraftmakers #weneedyourhelp #supportus #supportartists (at Isle of Wight) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfmAGxdoogM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

Life for me at the moment is like a multiple plate spinning act, it always is this time of year as I have Open Studios, exhibitions and markets looming. So the countdown to the Isle of Wight Open Studios is on... only 15 days to go until it starts on Friday 15th July until Monday 25th July, (for my Open Studios exhibition you'll have to wait a bit longer, mine starts Tuesday 19th - Saturday 23rd July!😊) Sadly there's been a bit of bad news... I was hoping to have the artists' yearbook to show you and distribute by now but unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances there may not be a booklet produced at all this year. However, the good news is... that there are some splendid people who have rallied round ie @seacycle_studio, @deejavuart and @the_imaginarium_one (apologies if I've missed anyone out) gathering lots of artists' details who are still participating all over the Island and instead of a booklet @the_imaginarium_one are hoping to produce some A4 flyers that will contain the artists' details who are still opening that we can print and distribute which although isn't ideal is better than nothing. So as you may have gathered no new painting from me this month because after the months of creating there's the exhibiting, which for me includes photographing, varnishing, framing, print production, card production, mounting, ordering, pricing, advertising and marketing, labelling, corresponding, accounting the list goes on and that's without the housework etc to do! So there's lots of talented artists and craftspeople that are all busy preparing for this event and really need your support, especially now. So if you can help by visiting the various artists and craftspeople dotted around the island and spreading the word we would all be eternally grateful. There is also going to be an Isle of Wight Open Studios Showcase Exhibition at the Quay Arts Centre in the West Gallery from Friday 15th July right through until Saturday 6th August so do pop along if you can. Once I have a copy of the A4 flyers I will let you know, but in the meantime scroll to see a list of artists participating so far and a map showing where they'll be but ..continued in comments (at Isle of Wight, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfbnG69MuoQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

I've had my postman's hat on today! I've had a few Etsy orders lately and as my latest order was to an address just down the road from where I live I thought I'd hand deliver it personally. There was quite a few added bonuses to this, firstly of seeing the friendly face of the happy recipient, secondly there was something comforting about seeing where it's new home might be, nice that I could arrange a convenient delivery time and know the person would actually be in, got in a few steps for the day and lastly that it's got there in one piece unscathed! I don't know about you but I always worry when I send anything (especially artwork) out in the post about what condition it will arrive in at it's destination, I worry because I care, it's important to me that the piece of artwork gets there in good condition so I always endeavour to package appropriately and touch wood haven't had any problems as yet! As a result of my experiences today I've decided if you're local to the Shanklin area (within a 2 mile radius) and you order something from me I will endeavour to personally hand deliver your order to you for free at your convenience! Tag me in your stories too if you're one of my happy customers. #happycustomers #etsyorders #etsyorderscomplete #isleofwightartist #artworkforsale (at Shanklin) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfElQwoM5Fk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

A sure sign that IW Open Studios must be looming!... #varnishing #gamvar #isleofwightartist #isleofwightopenstudios #isleofwightopenstudios2022 #isleofwightartsopenstudios (at Shanklin) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce07LShoTqR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sharonouldart]

A sign that IW Open Studios must be looming!... #varnishing #gamvar #isleofwightartist #isleofwightopenstudios #isleofwightopenstudios2022 #isleofwightartsopenstudios (at Shanklin) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce07LShoTqR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=