Lunch at the Sole Bay Inn at Southwold

Very nice Thea, very colourful and good use of pen and wash. I like the vignette approach also.

The colours here are stronger than the palette that you usually use especially in the sky and foreground. This bolder colour works very well. Could that be because of the payne's grey? A confident painting here! I like it very much.

Thank you, Stephen and Louise for those very nice comments. Stephen, I am very fond of a vignette as I feel it has a sense of immediacy which I find is perfect for some subjects, so glad you like it in this one. Louise, I don't think I had discovered Payne's Grey when I did this one as it is a fairly recent addition to my palette. I think the sky is cobalt, touch of ultramarine and some alizarin to make the purple tones. You are right that I was bolder than usual with the shadows in the foreground, so I am glad you approve!

Hi Thea, like it a lot, pallet and washes work really well, can't comment on the pen as I have never used it in a painting, if I did I think I would use it as a pencil. Thea I think you have just triggered me into having a go myself. From reading your blog it would seem to be quite an experience.

This works very well. As Louise says this has a confident feel about it. I like it and you have made me hungry mentioning lunch.

Like this one very much Thea, still having problems with the Blog page - click on but then' Internet cannot display page 'rears it's ugly head again!

A charming vignette Thea and, as Gudrun says, full of confidence, you've even got people and a dog in this one :)

So much better to dig something out that you weren't happy with and find it's not bad at all, than that dull thud of disappointment when you realize that something you thought not bad is actually - pretty bad. Or at least, so you tell yourself. I think though that the better you get the more the former rather than the latter happens; or you can see ways of improving a painting which you'd have struggled to find earlier in your career. I like this one - and I recognized it as yours without noticing your name at first, so you definitely have a style all your own; it's colourful, strongly lit, it has impact, and it cheers you up.

Thank you Peter, Gudrun, Debs, Val and Robert for your encouraging comments. Peter - do have a go as I am sure you will enjoy the challenge. Val, you noticed the dog! They don't often, if ever, creep into my paintings as I am no animal artist, but this one wasn't too hard to do. Robert, it is the story of my life to go back and look at paintings that I have dismissed and then find some merit in them. I often don't bother to put them on my gallery when that happens, but did in this case. I am thinking I should wait until a painting is at least 3 months old before I even think of looking at again let alone posting it . Might do something to improve my dodgy judgement.

I like the choice of the warm colours on the roof of the left building with the cooler colours in the sky, giving a bright warm feel. Lovely work.

Thank you very much, Paul. I appreciate your very nice comment.

It's charming and quirky Thea. I can't come to terms with pen and wash and I envy those who can.

Lovely and fresh, I like the dog in it too.

Thank you very much Kim and Glennis for such nice comments. Kim, I can't believe there is anything you can't do with your skills! Have a go and I bet we will all be bowled over with the results.

I agree with Robert in that your style and your use of particular colours is instantly recognisable. Beautifully drawn and painted. Have you ever illustrated a book ? If not, you should write one and start immediately !

Thank you so much, Beverley - what a very nice comment! I haven't given illustrating a single thought as I didn't think it would ever be my forte. I have written lots of stories for my grandchildren over the years, but never drawn anything to go with them. A nice idea though - you never know - I might have a go.

This is simply stunning, Thea! I love the palette, the sunlit effect and your very typical joie de vivre. I haven't been commenting for a while because I was pretty inundated, so apologies if I missed some of your earlier pieces. I'll get round to it eventually.

Hello Seok! How nice to see your name pop up again. You sound like you have been really busy - with art things I hope lol! Thank you for such a positive comment which I am sure you know how much I appreciate.

Hi, Thea. Your kind comments on my latest postings prompted me to thank you via one of your own postings. I regret that I have not been as frequent a visitor to the gallery as I was earlier last year (nor as active in producing any paintings for that matter!), but I have just reviewed your portfolio. It is remarkable how many places we both seem to visit (Souter lighthouse - A National Trrust cottage perhaps?). I haven't visited Venice this year, but your Suffolk haunts are much frequented and lved by Maggie and me. My favourite of yours remains the Aldborough Lighthouse, but I love the freshness of all of your stuff - it all looks so effortless, and yet you often hint that it is anything but! I am in the lake District this coming week, and I am taking some watercolours with me, to see how I fare.

Thank you so much, Duncan for such nice feedback - so much appreciated. We do seem to go to the same places, don't we. I am a great fan of lighthouses - such a satisfying shape aren't they. I hope your trip to the lake District proves to be inspiring and lots of lovely paintings result from it.

You have done justice to this nice view of Southwold. A real little gem of a painting :)

Thank you very much, Sarah, for your continued generous support.

I liked this immediately...... très réussi !

This is so fresh and lively, Thea. I think your work is refreshing and delightful. Shirley May.