Towards Sunset

Robert I think,for me this is a first comment on your work--- I find this painting rather quick and and spontaneous [ it also gives me an impression of yourself ]----Beatiful palette and a wonderful painting

Lovely painitng Robert

I agree , you haven't lost the feeling of spontaneity and I think it works well.

A familiar type of subject yet you have made it your own - it is so fresh and, at the risk of repeating it, spontaneous.

I really like this painting Robert but you can blame what you said on the thread in the forum about comments for what is coming next LOL My eye for some reason keeps being drawn to the palest bit middle right and I'm confused because I can't decide why, or if this is a good thing or not. I can't believe I've just had the temerity to say that to such an accomplished artist so feel free to criticise any of my postings with gusto.

Thanks to all. Val - (just wait until you post again! Evil smirk...) - I think the area you mention is one I would have changed quite a bit if I'd carried on with the painting; it could probably do with a few reddish dead leaves, fallen twigs etc, to tone down the brightness (which is essentially, a mix of Naples Yellow and Raw Sienna). I was afraid of the whole thing getting too dark, so left it as was. I don't know that my eye is drawn to the area particularly - if it had been I would probably have put a darker glaze over it at least - but then I need a month or two before I can see my paintings in any way objectively. Sometimes, I'll change them then: in fact you can see one I just did change on www.wightpaint.blogspot.com; but more often than not, I'm less happy with the results of subsequent tinkering than I was with the original, so I think the best thing is 'onwards and upwards', ie paint a new picture and let the others take care of themselves. Thanks for the thought - it gives me something to look out for next time. Robert.

I love tree's in whatever form and my favourite month is Autumn, so this is a double treat to look at Robert. The first area that draws my attention is the foreground yellow, which leads to the center and up between the two areas of yellow foliage into the glorious leaf canopy. Love it!

I would never dream of putting a bold red background in. Maybe thats why your an artist and I'm a doodler! Love it Robert.

I'm impressed, I wonder how long the one sitting was? The trees work particularly well and I like the less worked foreground as a change, the strokes of gesso are more obvious.

How long did it take? Er ... well, the red ground, to which Tony kindly refers (ta) was laid down days before (over a really ghastly painting of the Fawley oil refinery which neither effort nor any further paint could improve) - and I suppose it took about 2 hours, interspersed with tea and coffee breaks plus drying time, thereafter. I can't really work a lot longer than that - wot wiv being under the doctor wiv me back.... When you look at it, it's not actually a complicated picture in any way, nor was any precise drawing involved; so once I established the main shapes, in wet paint, all I had to do was get the colour balance right. And because I used just ... let me think: white, napthol crimson, burnt sienna, tiny bit of red iron oxide, Chroma yellow, Naples Yellow, Raw Sienna, ultramarine and a touch of prussian blue (a small palette, for me) it just came together. What worries me now is whether the next one will be anything like so straightforward - I'm sure I couldn't do one of your (Lesley's) boats in that sort of time, for instance! I've also got a bit of a yen to try this in my usual/old style, heavy on the detail and desaturated colours ..... probably just a waste of time, need to do something new. Thanks Fiona, Tony and Lesley for your comments.

I love this work-I aim to be as free as this in my painting.

Excellent stuff Robert. You're riight to stop; someone famous (I can't remember who) once said that all artists should have someone looking over their shoulder, ready to snatch away the brush before the painting is spoiled:-) best Mick

This is stunning, Robert. The colors are gorgeous, and there is so much vibrancy and movement in the scene. Apologies for the late comment. I've been away and am now trying to catch up.

Robert, many thanks for your comment on my 'purple' painting of the bay near our home, and thanks also for the suggestion to look at Roger Bansemer's site. I've just spent a very enjoyable and educational hour doing just that - and can I see some of his influence in this lovely painting of yours? Sorry I'm taking this approach to get a thank you message across - wasn't sure how else to do it, but I am very grateful, once again.

A very pleasing painting where I find myself looking harder just in case I have missed anything!

Missed this one earlier - a lovely painting Robert, I am no expert on landscapes but enjoy looking at the expertise of others.

I've only just seen this Robert and I'm really, really impressed. I don't generally like acrylics, square pictures or the use of more than four or five colours (there, got that off my chest!.) but this is excellent. Now, never mind the cost of paint, I'm looking for the next one to be at least 1m square! Best wishes, Terry.

Hi Robert, first time I have seen your portfolio and I see immediately that you have great affinity with trees and countryside. I like the way the trees frame the hillside and the effect of the dry grasses that would rustle as you walked through them. You are right, anymore work on this painting would have overdone it. It has a very appealing immediacy as it is.

Robert this is gorgeous. I love the colour, and I would be really proud to have painted this...it's an uplifting painting and not at all sacharin.(Doesn't look like right spelling but you know what I mean.) Looking forward to the next one.

I know this is very late down the road however, after all your wonderful and encouraging comments on my portraits and as I have only recently joined the 'painters-online' group I felt that better late than never. I absolutely love your work - I only wish that I could express myself as freely as you do. Detail can be my downfall - works in terms of the majority of the work that I do but could do with a bit more 'looseness' (not sure that is the right word to use) in other ideas that I would love to be able to put down on paper. After going through your portfolios, would you be averse to giving me a little friendly advice if I needed it. New to the UK, have been unable to connect to any art club or teacher in my area so would really appreciate a little assistance now and again. Hope this isn't a huge imposition on you. Once again, love what you do.

Lovely colopurs Robert and I am pleased you stopped when you did - it is lovely as it is.

Lovely colours Robert and I am pleased you stopped when you did - it is lovely as it is.

Thanks to all for your comments - Libby, in case you haven't seen my reply elsewhere, I should be happy to help you in any way I can; if it helps, email me on [email protected]; you can also email me directly from my website, www.isleofwightlandscapes.net; and see my blog at www.wightpaint.blogspot.com. Mary Jane, I shall long treasure the word " colopurs" - do you remember Professor Stanley Unwin (Goodlybyelode)? Thanks for your comments and for posting twice. Yes, to you all - I've thought about it since and I do feel I was right to stop when I did; I'm not exactly the greatest Apostle of "less is more", but just this once ....

Delightful study.