On Yer Bike!

No argument from me Thea :) this is definitely Pittenweem, I visit there most summers for their annual Arts Festival and your excellent "pen and painting" will make lots more people want to visit it as well I'm sure. ( Just wish the sky was always that blue when I visit )

I think whoever left the bike must have had you in mind Thea, it makes a lovely focal point for your colourful lively little painting.

A lovely relaxed scene Thea......even the shadows are nonchalantly described. Love the green bike!

Nice one Thea - but no gnomes?

Michael is obsessed with gnomes! Thea, this is beautiful, I love the colours , the green bike and the composition! It really looks better focused once enlarged and the lovely shadow can be appreciated. Such a fun and happy painting!

Thank you very much Val (glad it really is Pittenweem!), Christine, Fiona, Michael and Satu for your very nice comments. Michael - no gnomes - I don't have a sharp enough wit to be good at cartoons so I'll leave them to the experts. P.S. I am trying to decide whether to keep going with just doing pen and wash or to go back to 'proper' painting - any advice anyone? I am enjoying the pen and wash, but it does always seem a bit like cheating to me. I think this stems from the fact that it is a well known ploy to rescue a tonally failed painting by adding pen work and I always feel as if I am copping out. Can't explain, but some of you might know what I mean.

Super colours in this instantly recognisable painting Thea, a really summery piece of artwork that is a joy to look at, super work

You're burning the midnight oil, Ros! Thank you so much for your nice comment - much appreciated.

Very nice colourful pen and wash Thea. I like the format and all the detail including the tv aerials. Little additions like those add interest. It's a fun painting! As for pen and wash or 'real' painting. I think you feel that way as pen and wash works always feel more like sketches to me whenever I do them. I feel as though I've taken the easier option. This might not be true but it's how I feel and it sounds as though you do too! You should paint however or what ever you feel like painting. The results are always good, well, the one's you show us are anyway..LOL

Always so colourful and cheerful, lovely artwork Thea.

I don't care how long your pen and wash goes on I love them and this is no different. I remember falling in the rock pools at Pittenweem when I was young followed by my sister and then my brother. Dad was not amused. Keep them coming Thea.

Thank you very much, Louise and Carole. Louise, you obviously feel as I do about pen and wash. Great fun, I find it easier to do, but everything is a sketch rather than a painting. I have tried to combine the two, hence my joke about doing a pen and painting rather than a pen and wash, but I don't think it really makes that much difference. I sort of feel I am having a bit of a holiday at the moment and very soon term will start again and I will have to knuckle down to some more serious work. This opinion might be totally skewed - who knows. Several artists have totally made their name through pen and wash - David Gentleman, Ptolomy Dean, Steven Wiltshire to name a few, so perhaps if I keep going with that medium ........ in my dreams I think, lol!

Thank you very much, Dawn, I think you might see a few for a little while yet.

Thea, I find pen & wash easier than 'proper' painting ( not to insult those artists that use pen & wash as their main medium of course) but I put far more work into a pen & wash than a watercolour. When I do a watercolour I only put one pencil line in and that's for the horizon, sometimes I don't even stick to that, if I go over a bit! The rest of the painting is done with the brush. So I'm not sure whether using a pen is the easier option. I certainly enjoy the freedom of it! It's an interesting observation....perhaps one for the POL pole?

Another fresh and gorgeous scene with a lovely touch of humour. These pen and wash paintings of yours always seem so alive to me without actually containing figures, birds etc, A great achievement, I think!

Love it! Another fantastic painting Thea

Must have missed this one, another lovely pen and wash. I don't think there really is any difference between pen and wash and watercolour works, they are both ways of painting. many of Edward Wesson's best works (to me at least) were pen and wash.

Another delightful painting! Well done! If you are enjoying the pen and wash (and you are very good at it) then carry on is my advice. I do not consider it cheating in any way. And who of us has never had to "rescue" a painting. Each of your paintings is original. Looking forward to seeing more..............

A really gorgeous piece, Thea - the composition is superb, and the bike really adds a delightful, cheeky charm to the piece!

Thank you very much Fiona, Lionel, Petra, Stephen, Chris and Seok for such lovely comments which are also encouraging to receive.