Fresh Day in July by Robert Jones, Napa

Professional photographer friend - in Eire, unfortunately - believes my problem is camera-shake .... so it's me, not the camera. Drat.......

nice one ,You will have me taking up the oils again if you keep on ,, you have captured the fresh windy day perfectly,,,I really like the idea of not over doing the birds by the way ,,

Really like the way it shimmers in the sun, especially the sea. I gave up painting on canvas because of the way the pattern effects the photograph. I now make my own boards covered with a fine cotton and gessoed. They are much easier to photograph.

I do like the lightness you have got into this painting. Robert. I often find oils heavy but your painting glows with sunlight. It might be a small painting, but it packs a punch.

It certainly caught my eye. Instead of using a camera, have you tried it on the scanner or is the paint not dry yet? Maybe the canvas is too thick for the machine. I now put a sheet of transparency film on the glass of my scanner to tone down the structure of the canvas.

lots of light in this, and it caught my eye because of that :-)

Thanks again to everyone - Pat, the canvas is too thick for my scanner: these were box canvases, bought in bulk for a specific job. I think I could scan a normal canvas - have done in the past: it tends (I found) to bleach out some colours, but now and then it does do a better job than the camera. Gillian, yes - the canvas weave does affect the photograph, and I've a feeling it does so more on a small scale than on a large; but I like working on fairly toothy canvas... have used MDF boards from Jacksons with a canvas glued to them: they were much easier to photograph. But I cringe a bit at the thought of making my own - I have little faith in my own dexterity .... Still: I've always meant to, and might one day get round to actually doing it.

Robert, I've enjoyed looking at your recent postings and this is my favourite, with its bright and breezy feel. I find that things never look quite the same when they've been photographed and put onto the computer, but this has come out well however different from the original you may think it is. Looking forward to seeing some more soon...

Great spontaneity and movement in the painting, Robert. Very nicely done indeed.

Wonderful continuity of colours Robert. Bright, fresh and full of atmosphere.

I can feel the wind whistling through the long grass and I haven't had a drink yet! Honest :) Enjoyed looking around your website too .