Sandy coast by Raymond Ellis

I really feel as though I could walk into this painting, so very simple , but has just worked so well .Of all the paintings I have seen on the gallery here in the last year this is one I would like to live with. Just beautiful.

Hi Raymond. Could you tell me did you use the palette knife for the whole painting. I prefer to use one but am not as accurate with it as a brush. I think you've done the shadows wonderfully - excellent.

Hi Paulette...yes, this painting was done completely with the palette knife. It took me quite a while to become confident with it's use, initially i would just use it for the inclusion of heavy texture, but as I got more familiar with the tool, I found that I could add smooth coverage as well as texture..now I love using the knife!

Such a simple scene, but such a good painting - knives are fun to use, the only reason I don't use them often is that they can use up a lot of paint: on the other hand, you do tend to end up with a clean palette - so there's less wastage, which means I'm talking rubbish and must get my knives out again.... This should be one of your "boring" ones (sorry Sylvia..) but - it just isn't. Now how do you do that....?

Very, very un boring.

Terrific lighting Raymond, subtle and appealing

Just perfect :-)