The Mermaid in Penzance Harbour

Delightful, Thea. Much nicer than a photograph to bring back memories!

I like the strategically placed splashes of colour Thea. Lovely clean fresh colour as well! You always know exactly when to stop painting and never overwork them.

Nice vignette Thea, like the lightness of touch you must have used to paint this and also the boat perspective, it is always important to get boats correct and you have in this watercolour,might have considered making the boat reflections in the water a bit stronger/darker in colour, but this own is only my own thoughts on it, everyone has their own ideas on such matters, but a very nice piece of work

This would make nice card

Very nice Thea- a lovely piece of work.

Keep this high standard up Thea and you never know..you could get featured on the front of a magazine soon ;-) Another good 'un

Thank you very much Jane, Louise, Graham and Kevin for your kind and positive comments. Graham - although I always feel that I am making excuses when I explain anything I have done - please bear with me! I decided to keep the tone of the water light as I didn't want it to interfere with the tone of the boat. I painted the harbour wall first so that I had a reference to the relative tone and then I knew how strong to make the boat. I felt that if I made the reflections as strong as they actually were, I would end up detracted from the boat - if that all makes sense. In all my paintings, I am always trying to get a balance between tone, warm and cool and trying to keep the lightness to let the painting 'breathe' - so I often don't do what convention would dictate that you should do. However, I do like to hear what everyone has to say about how I have approached a painting and it all goes in and I remember these bits of information every time I sit down to paint.

Thanks very much Denise and Larry for your lovely comments. Larry, I think my magazine days are over as it nearly scuppered my ability to paint - such was the pressure. I just want to fade into the background and be the 'lady wot paints' again and not some accomplished artist, which I never was and probably never will be.

Hi Thea, thanks for the explanation of your thinking, I hope you do not think I was being critical with part of my comment about the rellection colour in the water, I should have possibly made my comment clearer in as much as it was how I would have probably tackled this part of the painting, and as you correctly say everyone of us has our own techniques to achieve our finished works, and I would add that I think this particular piece is a accomplished piece of work by yourself, regards Graham

Of course I don't think you are being critical, Graham, although I would mind even if you were. What is the point of posting work on the gallery if people can't freely give their views and my opinion is that all these views should be welcomed. However, when someone suggests something I like to explain my thinking in painting something in a certain way. It doesn't make me right but is just the way it occurred to me to do it. I like to hear other views and in another painting I may well remember that Graham suggested darker shadows and do that instead! No advice or information is wasted on me - I take it all on board and although I rarely alter a painting once it is done (not because I stubbornly think I am right all the time - it is more that if you fiddle with paintings it can ruin the freshness) - I always store information for future use. So keep on suggesting and advising - it is what a you are there for!!

I love the 'jauntiness' of these Nautical paintings, the cheerful reds add impact and I can almost hear a sailor whistling - painting in Cornwall suits your style!

A lovely, fresh painting of this jaunty little boat Thea. You're a natural, please continue to do it 'Your Way'!

A beautiful painting Thea as always.

May I commend your boat painting - colourful and fresh as usual ! The vignette style and splashes of colour really focus the subject. Well done.

Thank you so much Debs, Christine, Fiona, Kirstie and James - it is so nice of you all to take the time to have a look and comment and I really appreciate it.

I love getting onto Painters Online first thing in the morning and being greeted by a Thea Cable painting! It always makes my day! The colors are just delightfully cheery, yet not twee. It's a very well executed and well thought out painting which looks deceptively simple. It's just stunning, Thea!

P.S. And thank you very much too for your very encouraging and kind comments on my painting!

Seok, that is a wonderful and generous compliment and I am grateful for your comments. This painting was one of those that just flowed along without too much bother and it is lovely when that happens. Just wish I could be more consistant about working that way so that I didn't have to aim paintings at the bin so often (getting a good shot by the way LOL!)

Gosh - I think it's all been said! So colourful and fresh I do like it. Well done Thea and keep relaxed!

A beautifully simple vignette in the style you've made your own. Nobody does them better Thea so just keep on doing what you so obviously love doing and do so well. X

Thea....Havent seen any of your paintings for a while, typed in your mane, , found your portfolio and lo! This leapt out at me in all its wonderful freshness and vibrancy...Really delightful!

Sorry, sorry, sorry ! Didn't realise my comments had gone ahead to another page (all three of them!!) Oh my, what a silly billy I can be!!

Don't worry Ruth - I have the ultimate power on my portfolio to delete comments LOL!! Although it is brilliant having three wonderful compliments, I know that you intended to post only one, so I have adjusted things for you. It is very kind of you to have a look and leave such a generous and lovely comment. Hope to meet up with you soon when Julia is back from France.

Another lovely vibrant watercolour Thea. I find boats hard to get right but you obviously don't.