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Solo Exhibition - Synthesis, Harbour House, Kingsbridge, Devon

http://www.harbourhouse.org.uk/

Delighted to be holding my next major solo exhibition at Harbour House, Kingsbridge, a fabulously light and spacious gallery in a beautiful part of South Devon.  The exhibition will highlight the synthesis of my style to date; how I am influenced by the surrounding elements transforming what I see and feel into artwork.  I love that I am constantly striving to develop in mark making and design, my work is in a constant state of flux, which is so, so exciting!

Come and join me for a drink on the evening of Tuesday 6th October, or come and chat as I paint during the week.

www.louise-bougourd.com

Louise Bougourd Solo Exhibition, Birdwood House Gallery, Totnes, Devon

Sketching in Cornwall

We decided to have a trip to Mevagissey, Cornwall with the plan to do a few watercolour sketches on location and take lots of photos to use in the studio.  After a fabulous late breakfast in No. 5, Mevagissey we wondered around the gorgeous harbour - I just love painting boats, I felt like a child in a sweet shop snapping away and trying to settle on one scene to paint.  Eventually, I found a spot, sitting a few steps down toward the water to get a good view of a delightful fishing boat that couldn't be ignored and set about doing the sketch below:

You know what it's like when you get into the groove totally immersed in the process - well, I was unaware that a couple and their friend, who were on holiday, were watching me, they were standing above me for about twenty minutes my husband told me later.  When I had finished and began to gather everything together and make my way up the steps I was greeted with wonderful comments about my painting and asked if I would consider selling it!  Didn't want to disappoint them so agreed. They loved it especially as they had been watching its creation.  What a lovely complement :)

Element

Solo Exhibition

19th - 25th July 2015

The Gallery Birdwood House, 44 High Street, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5SQ

Pre-view Sunday 19th July 2015

11am - 3pm

(I will be painting everyday during the exhibition pop along and say hello)

New Day, new work

I'm up, not quite with the lark but off to my studio - bliss, a day to myself to paint, this is my inspiration for the day :)

Patchings Art Festival

So pleased my gorgeous giraffe has found a loving home - sold to a lovely lady at Patchings today.  It has been a wonderful day meeting so many people, demonstrating on my stand and chatting to such enthusiastic artists - so much fun!

See you there tomorrow for more excitement and fun with paint :)

Fast pace

Life has been busy but such fun; it is now time to prepare for Patchings Art Festival - first time I have exhibited and demonstrated at the show, can't wait.  I will be in the Artist Marquee at studio 250, pop in to see me and say hello, I will be demonstrating many of my techniques :)

Saturday Workshop 20th July

Saturday Workshop

20th July 2013

at

The Burdett Building

Wolborough Road

Newton Abbot

Devon

The focus for the day will be a coastal scene with beach huts based on one of my photos

£25.00 for the day

Bring your lunch - coffee and tea provided

To book your place or for further information contact me:

Louisebougourd@hotmail.co.uk

or

Tel: 01626 203859

Filming for "A Splash of Paint' at SAA Headquarters.

Filming for 'A Splash of Paint' at SAA Headquarters - will be on:

http://www.thepaintinganddrawingchannel.co.uk/

Episode 14

The day did not start well as we had the wrong postcode for our Sat Nav but, everything improved as soon as I arrived at SAA Headquarters.  I was given a coffee and time to set-up before filming began.  I was very quickly painting the first scene with cameras from all directions staring at me; no time to consider whether my bottom looked big in an outfit haha.  Off we went filming as I painted in my usual  free and loose style creating a moorland scene - such fun.  One down and number two was soon under way, a coastal scene closely followed by a flower scene.  Wow, what a fast pace but so exhilarating!  Much more to be done - time seemed to melt and before long the day was coming to an end.

I felt so tired but motivated, I just wanted to continue painting; it is not often that I get to paint so many scenes without interruption.

Massive thank you to Gary and his team at SAA for making the day fun and memorable, also for looking after me especially the chocolate!

New Beginnings

This is the initial stage of a painting I will be doing this week in my classes; I like to have a 'dummy' run if time permits me which serves two purposes; firstly, I have fun experimenting with my ideas by trialling them for myself, secondly, I am able to take the 'dummy' run to my classes for people to see what I have in mind.

I have used a large graphite pencil to to indicate where the trees and gate need to be; I have also used some masking fluid (I prefer Pebeo) to mask a few cow parsely plants and oil pastel to introduce a splash of pink and yellow into what will be a predominantly green painting.

Second stage - I have used Green gold and Undersea green (both Daniel Smith) to create the distant hill and hedges.  I used a large round sable to apply clean water to the top of the hill followed by green gold then undersea green into the green gold to create a soft, defused distance.  I then used a strong mix of undersea green to suggest foliage and grasses into the foreground varying the strength.  Finally, I spattered Opera rose (Windsor & Newton) and Translucent orange (Schminke) into the lower foreground to suggest wild flowers.  I'm now waiting for it to dry - cup of coffee time. 

Techniques

Using wet-in-wet and wet-on-dry to paint elephants; I chose to use opaque colours to help create solidity to the shapes.

I used Indian yellow and Cobalt blue - both are opaque colours.

The smaller elephant was painted using wet-in-wet, the larger elephant was painted using wet-on-dry technique.

Firstly, I painted Indian yellow in a loose wash to create the overall shape of the elephant followed by Cobalt blue in a more dense consistency to create the shadows and help define the shape of the young elephant.  When you have painted a wash which has quite a lot of water included you need to reduce the next wash to a much more dense consistency to ensure that it doesn't bloom and explode into the existing wash.  You may wish to wait until the initial wash looks less shiny before you add the Cobalt blue.

The second and larger elephant was painted using wet-on-dry technique - I started by lightly sketching the elephant to give me an outline in which to work; I then painted Indian yellow carefully, leaving a few white/dry areas to  help create the shape of the elephant.  I waited until the yellow was completely dry before I added Cobalt blue to define the darker areas and the shape.

Each technique has it's benefit but I prefer to use wet-in-wet to allow the paint to merge and develop on the paper.

Hope you have a go and enjoy the exercise - let me know how you get on.  Happy Painting.

Painting Holiday in Cornwall with me

Watercolour Painting Holidays - Mullion Cove Hotel, 28th April - 3rd May  and 13th - 18th October 2013

Can't wait to paint on location and in the purpose-built studio at Mullion Cove Hotel, Mullion Cove, Cornwall.  

If you would like to join me next week or in October please contact me:

Email: louisebougourd@hotmail.co.uk

Tel: 01626 203859

Alternatively, book directly with the Hotel:

Telephone: 01326 240328
Fax: 01326 240998
Email: enquiries@mullion-cove.co.uk

Identifying Tonal Value

A tonal sketch demonstrated in the Teignmouth class this morning.  Using one colour (monochrome) is such a fabulous way to identify tonal values in a composition.  We didn't have enough time to complete the image but will return to it next time.

Saturday Workshop - 23rd June 2012

Saturday Workshop - The Burdett Building, Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot.

10am until 4pm

Theme = Buildings, use of texture and bold colour

£25.00 for the day

Bring your usual materials and a packed lunch.

(Further information will be issued on receiving your booking.)

New work delivered to the gallery in Sidmouth.

Took new work to the gallery, South West Art, Sidmouth; used a 'Loading' bay to park and drop the work off, got a ticket!   By gum they're as keen as mustard!

Painting Holiday at Mullion Hotel, Cornwall.

Linda concentrating - an amazing artist!

Cadgwith before the sea-mist decended.

Gorgeous boat to paint in the studio.

Chris keeping the cold out.

Ladies at work - so lovely to have a table to yourself!

Julie's artwork is fantastic!

A warm-up exercise - such fun!

Colourful little snail, I nearly stood on him!

Mullion Cove

Loved the colours in the sea.

Had such a wonderful time at Otter Vale Art Society on Friday evening where I gave a demonstration. Met great people who made me very welcome. Thank you to you all :)

I am thrilled to have two paintings accepted by SWA's (Society for Women Artists) Open Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London.  The exhibition opens June 27th 2012.

http://www.society-women-artists.org.uk/

Painting Holiday, Mullion Cove Hotel

It will soon be time to pack my brushes, paints, paper and easel for a glorious week of teaching watercolour painting in Cornwall.  The Mullion Cove Hotel is a superb venue for the painting holiday with its purpose built studio and a wide range of amazing locations to paint just a short distance away, what could be better?

There are a few places still available - why not treat yourself and join me?

http://www.mullion-cove.co.uk/