Set out this morning to try and sketch the partial solar eclipse as it happened. By drawing the view towards the sun I thought I could experience the moment without blinding myself. But it was slightly misty and there was a weird dull light throughout. So the extra dullness when the eclipse happened (somewhere around 9.35 am) was not obvious to me. As I was in my portable studio (the car) I did not experience the temperature drop either.
I used pastel so I could work quickly. I am looking south over Old Sneed Park towards St Mary Magdalene Church and the Downs, Bristol.

I left my job at Bristol Museum and Art gallery in 2014  to concentrate more on my art. To celebrate I had an exhibition at the Grant Bradley Gallery, Bristol in May with two of my painting buddies and showed 24 of my paintings . We go out painting landscapes together which led to our title- Drawn to Landscape.

 The pleasure of painting for me is the direct experience in front of a subject that has caught my eye.  Spending time sitting for hours and trying to make a picture out of it. So my landscape pictures are always portraits of a place and done from life, never from photographs. I prefer oils, but acrylic or watercolour can be easier sometimes as they can't be smudged. One is often battling against the elements. Painting on cliff tops means clutching on to your work as the wind tries to whip it over the edge. Sand grains stick to your oil paint. Someone's dog runs up excitedly and tramples on your painting. Layers of clothes are needed to try and keep warm or keep the sun off. Someone asked me why do artists always wear floppy hats? It is not just to keep your eyes shaded, but to keep the sun from burning the back of your neck.  The best thing is to have a painting friend to go with you which makes it more fun.