Stephen J Quirke watercolour blog and online gallery
Posted by Stephen Quirke on July 23, 2010 under Art, Strand Pipe beach, landscape, painting, seascape, watercolor, watercolour | 
2 Comments to Read
Here is the painting I did from my memory of what I saw a while back at The Pipe – when I looked the other side. I am keen to try this again. There was such a glow.
This is on a half sheet of Arches 300gm Cold Pressed (560 x 380 mm)
Posted by Stephen Quirke on July 14, 2010 under Art, en plein air, landscape, painting, watercolor, watercolour | 2 Comments to Read
Here is a painting I did in the Little Karoo, taking a different route home from George.
Posted by Stephen on July 1, 2010 under Art, en plein air, landscape, painting, watercolor, watercolour | 4 Comments to Read
This afternoon I had to be in the area again and came prepared to paint the same scene. I found a perspective which incorporated a view of the oak trees lining the main road. It was a bit close to the main road but I thought it would be worth it. As I set up I idly wondered whether the testosterone charged locals who roared down the road in the luxury german sedans and their streetsmart 4x4s also felt the magic of that short length of road in the shade of the gnarled oaks.
Posted by Stephen on June 28, 2010 under Art, en plein air, landscape, painting, watercolor, watercolour | 5 Comments to Read
Durbanville, where I do quite a bit of work is right on the edge of ‘town’. You drive between houses and scho0ls and next thing you are in between vineyards and wheatfields. I had some time this evening and remembered a place called Pampoenkraal where I have often wanted to stop and paint. I guess that roughly translates to “Pumpkin Paddock”.
Posted by Stephen on June 23, 2010 under Art, en plein air, landscape, painting, watercolor, watercolour | 2 Comments to Read
Yesterday I had business in Paarl and went up the N1 north into Du Toits Kloof pass to paint a scene I have wanted to do for ages. I parked at the hotel and crossed the highway and walked up the hill a short way to set up. I used a full sheet of Arches (560 x 760mm) which was a new experience. It was so nice to stand there with a big squirrel hair mop, splashing the colour on. Man! it felt good.
Eventually I had leave the painting half done because the paper would not dry and I had to get back. This is how it looked when I left:
and this afternoon it looks like this:
On reflection I reckon I would like to have achieved something like this with the first wash. Bold! I need to go more bold with those first washes.
And I want to do something about how I carry stuff. I carried these ungainly boards and sheets of paper with my art box slipping off my shoulder. mmmf – time to get organised.
I plan to complete this painting here in the studio as I am not sure when I will get out there again.
Posted by Stephen on June 19, 2010 under Art, Cedarberg, en plein air, landscape, painting, watercolor, watercolour, waterfall | 8 Comments to Read
The night before we hiked up to Spout Cave last weekend we spent the night at Uitkyk cottage with friends. It was Jacqui’s birthday the next day and I had time to sit at the stream below the house and paint this water colour, just before it became to dark (and cold). So this is her birthday gift. I forgot to take a photo of the watercolour and have only just managed to get that done – which is why it is a little dated here.
It was great sitting on the edge of the stream hearing the water splash down the rocks and watching the colours change. As I sat down the last ray of sunshine shone out through a crack in the crags in the background.
Posted by Stephen on June 5, 2010 under Art, Forest pool, Wilderness, en plein air, landscape, painting, watercolor, watercolour | 8 Comments to Read
On Wednesday, as prepared to return to Somerset West from George I took some time to wander up the Half Collared Kingfisher trail to do a painting. Actually I would have been happy to sit in the Winter sunshine and watch the cormorants working up and down the river. But I found a pleasant view looking downstream from the lookout on the river-bank. The forest glistened as the sun rose above the hills overlooking the river. I took a video of the watercolour as I worked. I am getting used to working around the camcorder. So here we go:
The painting it 280x190mm on Arches Cold Pressed (300gm).
I am reading Nita Engle on how she creates forest and river reflections. Soon I want to give her technique a whirl.
Posted by Stephen on June 4, 2010 under Art, Strand Pipe beach, figure, landscape, painting, seascape, watercolor, watercolour | 8 Comments to Read
Here is a watercolour I did from the painting I did on the beach and from memory – kind of the way it should be hey?
Still not what I wanted but – another step in the journey…
phew – long day – time to kip
Posted by Stephen on under Art, Strand Pipe beach, en plein air, figure, landscape, painting, seascape, watercolor, watercolour | 2 Comments to Read
This is Wayne. I went down to the sea today to paint the waves, following a suggestion by K. There are no poles to create an interesting foreground – BUT – there was someone fishing from the shore which I thought would be a worthy change. As I set up my stand he noticed me and turned to watch. When he saw I was sketching he stood still with a smile on his face and his rod in the crook of his arm. What an excellent model. I motioned with a thumbs-up and he nodded.
I completed the main part of the painting and he came up to chat with me and his mates, who had watched the watercolour start. He told me he fishes at The Pipe in the North-West wind though he had not caught anything that day. He said he catches kabeljou and steenbras (both of which are lekker to eat) amongst others. I offered him the painting but had to bring it home to photograph it to post here – so we arranged that I would leave it at the Orange Cafe over the road to Duckies.
And here is the painting:
it is painted on Arches cold pressed – 28x38mm
Posted by Stephen on June 3, 2010 under Art, en plein air, landscape, painting, seascape, watercolor, watercolour | 8 Comments to Read
I have just been up in George again. After my business appointments I went down to Ballots Bay, where we have a plot of land. I chatted with my neighbour on his deck. He had to rush off and I asked if I could stay and paint a picture of the bay. Here is the painting:
and here is a photo of me painting:
You can see where it is on Google Earth at: Latitude: 34° 0’41.53″S and Longitude: 22°32’22.10″E
