A Christmas Card for Chichester

I planned the layout and the colours in my Seawhite sketch book

all drawn out and ready to colour

The finished painting



This year I planned a painting of Chichester for a fund raising Christmas Card for SASBAH.  Back in the spring I met a friend and we went for lunch there, and I had a good look around all in the name of research! I knew the layout I wanted to paint when I came away. It was several months later, and high summer by the time I got to draw it out in my sketch book though! I have added a few famous faces that live around the Chichester area, or have connections there...can you spot anyone? The original painting will be shown at Chalk Gallery next month, and the christmas cards are now on sale at Cards for Good causes shops in Sussex

you can buy the fundraising card also online, here ;
https://www.cardsforcharity.co.uk/?s=sasbah&post_type=product

Stoners the Jewellers, Burgess Hill

loosely sketched in my Seawhites sketch book

scaled up and drawn out on a larger piece of Bockingford watercolour

All done

I grew up in Burgess Hill, in the seventies most Saturdays were spent by having a walk up to the town with my pocket money. The town was fairly small, but had recently been enlarged with a new modern shopping centre with what were at the time exciting new shops. A big Smiths, a giant boots, a new toyshop, sweet shops and some clothes shops, there was also a big showroom to exchange your green shield stamps. That area of the town is now all about to be torn down again. that makes me feel old!

However, there are a few strong survivors, and here is one. This jewellers shop is in its third generation. Survived the first phase of demolition in the town and all those new shops, and now stands firmly resisting all the changes that are threatening again. There are not many shops that have survived for longer than I can remember so these really need to be celebrated!

Once upon a time I would be left outside these shops in my pram, and would talk to people as they passed by or stopped to say hello. I am trying to get a feel for those times within this picture. I also remember well the lady traffic warden that used to pound the streets of the town. She was a bit scary to me!!

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!

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!