Cottage Ruins, Nr Ventnor, Isle of Wight

Not overworked, lots of movement with a rugged look. Quite appropriate for the old ruin and coastal aspect I think.

I really look forward to seeing your paintings on Isle of Wight, is it a very large place? your web site has some really lovely paintings on it as well, I don't much about water colours but this is nice, are water colours hard to learn with out tutoring?

Most kind... Possibly too kind, but I do not complain at all... Karleen, the Isle of Wight is not a very large place; they tell me it's 380 square km in area - but I don't really do figures at all. Watercolours are hard to do because unpredictable - I have received no formal tutoring, other than via books and magazines like The Artist. As with all things, I think just having a bash at them is the best way to learn; there are many ways to learn how to paint in watercolour, and the trouble with tutoring is that you tend to be taught the style in which the tutor is most comfortable. There is a website by Peter Saw, which you might find interesting; just Google him. He'll tell you more about watercolour than most can. There's also a site at www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com which is useful and straightforward. Have a go.

nice painting robert, Ventnor has a great pub down on the front were the waves come over the wall hitting the windows in a storm but i can't remember the name.

The Spyglass, I think; nice pub but high prices last time I was there!

Thank you:), will definately have a look at those sites.

Hi there Robert! Another nice painting! Now..I have a question...do you mainly paint from photos, or do you actually go out on location? Reason for this question: You have a nice style with the use of watercolour, and if you are painting from images, then you will be amazed how you will improve when applying your technique whilst actually on location! Most student artists ( not for a minute saying this applies to you!) get somewhat overwhelmed when faced with that large expance of vista when first painting outdoors. It is an art in itself to be able to focus on just that part of the vista you want to paint. The use of a blank frame is paramount when painting plein air...I actually fix it to my easel, and use it like a gun sight! But my point is, by painting plein air, you get the natural colours and hues that can never be replicated in a photo. Anyway, nice painting!!

How do, Raymond.. Yes - well.. let me confess... My normal practice is to go out with a camera and sketch-pad, take the references I need, and paint at home. My reasons for this are that I don't drive, and also have bad spinal arthritis - this is extremely limiting; what I need is a friend who likes driving and sitting about, and has the time to do so... then, I could paint in the open air, and a lot of things would be, if not easier, then at least more immediate. Lugging equipment about on foot isn't really on, at the moment. My ideal would be a student who wanted to come along with me and watch, while I took full advantage of his/her capacity to drive and handle the luggage! It is a real problem, and I'm constantly looking for ways of dealing with it, because I do know exactly what you're saying; it is the devil's own job to focus on a scene, exclude the unnecessary, and convey the essential, if what you're working from is a pencil sketch, and a photograph which doesn't always seem to relate to it particularly closely, when you've got it home.... Possible solutions might be a pad with coloured pencils, or even a few watercolours ... what I'd like to do is take the easel out and a pochade, but by the time I got to where I wanted to go, I'd be too knackered to do much work. This is all the consequence of a major road accident years ago... any ideas or suggestions most welcome.

hi Robert found you at last ,a great gallery there , ,, I try to be more loose and relaxed in my painting now a days , I am now in my old age ,and time is short ..,your paintings are great and a lot lof feeling in them ,((you are not my long lost twin brother are you? you paint so much like I used to see you more in the days ahead take care

Don't think I'm your long lost twin, but my father did have a bike..... I haven't been painting in watercolour for very long; started with oil, then went on to acrylic - I've only really painted anything seriously in w/colour this year. A lot to learn ... I've always admired loose watercolour, and have approached greater looseness than I've displayed here; but I am a pre-eminent fiddler... clients sometimes to blame! "I do like detail" being a common remark. They shouldn't encourage me..

Missed this the first time round. One of the blessings of getting a comment is that I tend to go to that person's gallery (I suppose we maybe all do) and get to see some lovely paintings which we would otherwise miss. I like this Isle of Wight painting very much, lots of texture and lovely overall colour. I can't remember whether or not I thanked you for help and advice you gave me in 'Under the branches.' It is very kind and patient of you to be so helpful, so thank you. Thanks too for your comment on Crab apple jelly. They are a lovely sight on the branches at the bottom of my garden, almost ready for off , so look out, Mrs. Beeton...here I come! Regards.

Missed this the first time round. One of the blessings of getting a comment is that I tend to go to that person's gallery (I suppose we maybe all do) and get to see some lovely paintings which we would otherwise miss. I like this Isle of Wight painting very much, lots of texture and lovely overall colour.... I can't remember whether or not I thanked you for help and advice you gave me in 'Under the branches.' It is very kind and patient of you to be so helpful, so thank you. Thanks too for your comment on Crab apple jelly. They are a lovely sight on the branches at the bottom of my garden, almost ready for off , so look out, Mrs. Beeton...here I come! Keep warm this winter, won't you. I have similar problems to you with spondylitis, and it is very limiting. I do drive so tend to sketch from the car, but our best views here are high up in the Berwyns, or through narrow country lanes with straying sheep and lambs on every bend, so don't get about as I once did. I enjoy landscape painting very much and do as you do, sketch pad references, photographs etc. then back home to work. I have a set of coloured graphite pencils for on the spot sketches, which need only one damp brush to achieve the full strength of the hue...you might find those helpful, with the added advantage of being light to carry about. Regards now and take care.

Smashing work Robert, have answered your query on my painting. Thank you for your kind comments.

A forgotten time still hisses between old grey teeth half buried in a brambly beard. And you can lean against the wind, as firm and cold as the stone itself. And write your thoughts upon the smokey clouds ghosting by. There is a stoic weariness about this scene. Textured with fine purpose :-)

Hi Robert. Found your full portfolio at last. This is nice. I see what you mean by wondering whether you have overworked it, as with pure watercolour the grasses in the foreground may have been created via negative painting or masking fluid which would have lightened the detailed effect but then again, this is partly watercolour pencils too, which lends itself to more detailed lines than watercolour alone. Despite your misgivings though it is a lively painting, with lots of movement. I do like it. Jx

Robert, I have just lost your full portfolio just as I had found it and still hadn't looked at it! I'm rubbish on the computer! I'm gutted. Will you be putting any more on for me to see in the near future, as now I've only seen this one of yours? P.S. Thank you for your kind comments on my two recently posted acrylics. I have answered your queries on the paintings comments boxes in my portfolio.

I shall be posting more, as my broken arm heals and the light improves so that I can photograph them - can't take pictures indoors as I live in an old, dark house; and the weather outside hasn't been exactly conducive to photography. Thanks for your comments.

Incidentally, the foregound notes were accomplished with a pen-knife as much as anything else; the watercolour pencil was used elsewhere.

I discovered this watercolour on the right side gallery of the home-page and after all those exuberant comments, there is not much for me to say anymore. Only that I like it, especially the ruin (I like ruins, sheds and barns) and the sunshine on the sand in contrast with the darker grasses in the foreground. Another of your works I like is the lighthouse on the frontpage of your own website. Until now (shame on me!!) I didn't browse your POL-gallery completely, so there is more to discover for me.

This worked well Robert. I tried watercolour pencils but never really got on well with them. As you know I tend to use oil pastel now over my watercolour/ink pieces and that works quite well. Best wishes, Martin www.cobbybrook.co.uk

Another good painting Robert, but then one would expect nothing less from such an accomplished artist such as you. Especially one taught by Francis Hewlett and Robert Organ, two very and I do mean very good artists. I must say, we have very similar methods. Like you my normal practice is to go out with a camera and sketch-pad, take the references I need, and paint at home. I also use digital video camera to capture the atmosphere, or lack of it!

WE always made for the Mill Bay Tavern for a pint of Burts VPA (I think). Still Goddards is a fitting successor. I also paint a bit!