LyndseySmith: Inifinity in the North Laine - steps to a painting...

LyndseySmith: Inifinity in the North Laine - steps to a painting...: initial sketch in A4 Seawhite sketch book drawing out on heavyweight Bockingford paper drawn out in pen, bigger and ready for co...

Inifinity in the North Laine - steps to a painting

initial sketch in A4 Seawhite sketch book

drawing out on heavyweight Bockingford paper

drawn out in pen, bigger and ready for colour

I usually start with the colours of the building

grounding helps, and I decide on a sky and shadows

its the last details that take the longest

Infinity Foods stands on a corner of the North Laine in Brighton, a busy buzzy area that is great for a wander, and something to eat. Exciting shops, always something different. And plenty of seagulls!

a painting to remember the family home

Before downsizing from the family home, a gift from the children and grandchildren to the parents was this family portrait to remember happy days getting together and playing in the garden. The couple had also recently celebrated a landmark anniversary, and the cake is behind. Rough plan to finished painting, there were a few changes but not much, don't forget the family cat!

A wedding at Anne of Cleves House

A commissioned Family Portrait recently finished in watercolour, to remember a wedding celebration at Anne of Cleves House in Lewes.

Sunshine and Sunflowers in France

first plans in sketch book

drawing out on thick watercolour paper

finished painting

sunshine and sunflowers! detail

Here is the development of a commission from last spring, to bring a little sunshine to the blog (especially as I am working away on snowy paintings at the moment!)
this couple love to walk and cycle on holidays in the Vendee, France. The sunflowers were a joy to paint!

A painting for the Season at Glyndebourne

all planned out in pencil

pick out the lines in pen

when the watercolours go on it becomes less of a muddle of line

all finished!

close up on some of the characters

Last summer Chalk Gallery artists visited Glyndebourne Opera House, and we had an exhibition of work inspired by our visit. For me it had to be the picnickers on the lawn! They were all drawn from my imagination, apart from a few characters in their costume and a couple based on Danielle De Niese and Gus Christie with their faithful friends. Cheers!

This painting has recently been printed as a jigsaw puzzle and is sold to raise money for the friends of Eastbourne Hospital.

The story of a greetings card for Leeds Castle, Kent

I sat by the castle and sketched, it was late in the day and so peaceful

my first sketch. I knew there would be more characters, just not sure how many at this point

when I sketched it out I gradually added more...literally cutting and pasting to get them all in!

then I worked from my sketch to draw it all out again on Bockingford watercolour paper

and then the paint went on!

a close up on the characters. Leeds, castle of queens

I was happy to be commissioned by Leeds castle to produce a painting that could be sold as a greetings card in their shop. I hadn't been to the castle before, so made my way over with sketchbook one sunny afternoon. Getting lost on the way I arrived late in the day, and was only able to sketch from across the lake. It was beautifully warm and peaceful.
I worked from my photographs and memories of my visit to produce the sketch, gradually building up the characters. Leeds is famous as the castle of Queens. I had them all in there, taking a selfie. Henry and Catherine of Aragon lived there for a while, and in more recent times the castle was owned by Lady Baillie, and her lovely dogs.
Now it is open to the public, and has lots of events, huge grounds, including a golf course, weddings, punting, jousting, a fabulous Christmas market, fireworks, flower festivals and more. see https://www.leeds-castle.com to find out.

No worries at the Brighton Beer Dispensary

initial rough sketch of the painting..notes to self

all drawn out again on watercolour paper

the first colours go on and the painting comes alive again

finished!

I was commissioned to paint the Brighton Beer Dispensary by a regular. He wanted to have his friends from the pub included too. I was sent a collection of photographs of the people and placed them all together for this busy day at the pub. There is a copy hanging up in the pub if ever you go there, and I hear that the roasts in there have won national awards : )