sea blue sky abstracts

Trees are silhouetted black against the sky - a clear expanse unsullied by even one cloud - pink/yellow low in the West merging into pale blue and deeper, darker blue out into space.  The air is still in this corner sheltered from the cold North East breeze and tiny bats are dipping and diving for insects in ideal conditions. This is how Porthmeor Beach looked around an hour ago as the sun started to set - lovely, but very, very chilly!

'Wild Weather Porthmeor' oil on primed mdf, white wood frame.  Image size 19 x 15 cm, framed size 32 x 28 cm.  'Porthmeor - light late in the day' oil on primed board framed, image size 43 x 30 cm, framed size 60 x 47 cm. 'Wild Weather' has been painted over an earlier painting that didn't work and 'Porthmeor - light' is a new painting in an old (but very nice and too good to waste) frame.  Both paintings are destined for the Clare White Gallery in Barnsley.

There are more in the pipeline (well two works in progress - I'm going to have to get my finger out) but here is this week's solitary offering:  'Ground Sea, Bright Sky' 12.5 x 12.5 cm, oil on primed board. SOLD Next full painting day will be Sunday - I'd like to start a couple of larger projects as well as making a start on the small square seascapes. A beautiful evening here in St Ives - orange light on the wall from the setting sun.  Porthmeor Beach was tranquil and lovely earlier at low tide, with soft, deep shadows beneath the rocks and sleek water thinly coating the sand and reflecting the sky.

Have just completed a post intended for Sea-Blue-Sky-Abstracts on my other blog 'Picture from St Ives'.  Please click here to read - honestly, could I get much more absent minded?! Glorious in St Ives today, with sun, sun, sun, all day long on The Wharf - hordes of people enjoying themselves on the Foresand.  Tomorrow (Wednesday 20 April) is my day to work at Art Space Gallery, so why not pop in and say 'Hello'? x

So glad to be able to report that Art Space Gallery re-opened today and will remain open from 10-5.30 pm each and every day over the Easter period.  Tomorrow (Wednesday 20 April) is my day to work in the Gallery, so pop in and say 'Hello' if you're in the area - I'd love to see you! Now it's possible to buy canvas prints of my work (such as 'Always the Sea' above) direct from Saatchi Online  and I hope to add more later - though will need to get a more up to date camera to be able to achieve the large picture files needed!  Click here to see what's currently available.

Here are some new additions to the wall at Art Space gallery - I thought it would be interesting to include because of the two paintings on the top left of the photo. See below for a closer view.  Based on plant forms, the third in the series was swapped with Cathy at One Pink Goose for this lovely pen & ink study Click to enlarge.

I have just submitted 'Fine Evening Gwithian' to the Help Japan Challenge  online auction and all proceeds from its sale will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society The painting is unframed and measures 5 x 5 inches/12.5 x 12.5 cm, click here to see more paintings and scroll down to see similar works in the frame.

Summer sun, warm calm evenings, breaking waves and storm driven breakers - the sea and shore of Porthmeor beach and the fringes of St Ives Bay provide an endless source of inspiration! 'Fine Evening Gwithian' oil on primed board, 12.5 x 12.5 cm. SOLD 'Peaceful Shore' oil on primed board, 12.5 x 11.5 cm.   SOLD 'Stormy Sea & Sky' oil on primed board, 12.5 x 12.5 cm. SOLD 'The Wave' oil on primed board, 12.5 x 12.5 cm. SOLD 'Waves and Rock Pool' oil on primed board, 12.5 x 12.5 cm. SOLD Have a lovely Sunday everyone. x

Some examples of the type of work I'm exhibiting at Art Space Gallery at the moment - they're all diptychs, painted in watercolour and gouache on heavyweight (300lb) watercolour paper, which doesn't need stretching. Click here to see some new little paintings on my other painting blog, Picture from St Ives.

' Tulips' an original drypoint print completed with watercolour and ink has been submitted to The Help Japan Challenge  posted by painter Keiko Tanabe .  The challenge - to raise funds to help the stricken people of Japan overcome disastrous after effects of the recent earthquake and tsunami - features an ongoing online auction of artworks with proceeds going to charity.  Money raised through the sale of 'Tulips' will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society (send money via Google) .  Take a look at Katherine Tyrrell's Making a Mark blog  which is where I first found out about Help Japan.  Have a good week. x

Come along to the Exchange Gallery on Saturday night if you are in the area for the Art Auction in aid of St Julia's Hospice - admission £3.00 includes a glass of bubbly and there's music too! Not able to attend but would like a chance to bid, click here  to view the options available. Thanks also to Katherine Tyrrell who has posted about the above event on her comprehensive art blog 'Making a Mark'.

'Above Gulval' below, which will be auctioned alongside works by many other artists to raise  funds for St Julia's Hospice , at the Exchange Gallery , Penzance on Saturday 26 March, 2011. This large painting, measuring approx 91 x 61 cm, shows two hawthorns - bent over by prevailing winds - growing in a hedge on the B3311 St Ives to Penzance road, high above the village of Gulval.  In fact, the central tree is no longer there, having blown/fallen over a couple of winters ago.  Rendered in acrylic and oil on canvas in a lime waxed wooden frame. The painting has a modest estimate of £150/£200 with  50% of the selling price being donated to St Julia's.  Click to enlarge. To download a copy of the catalogue and view some of the stunning artworks available by a host of talented artists and makers, please click here Hope that you will be able to come along on the night - there will definitely be something affordable to suit every taste and all in a very good cause

The paintings below will be framed up soon and put on sale at Art Space Gallery , with the exception of the last and smallest 'Wintry Day at the Beach' which will be mounted and eventually placed on sale at St Ives Society of Artists. 'Dark and Wild' oil on primed board, 12.5 x 12.5 cm. SOLD 'Last of the Sun' oil on board, 12.5 x 12.5 cm. SOLD 'Storm Tide ' oil on primed board, 12.5 x 12.5 cm. SOLD 'Sun Shower' oil on primed board, 12.5 x 12.5 cm. SOLD 'Wind Driven Seas ' oil on primed board, 12.5 x 12.5 cm. SOLD ' Winter Sunset' oil on board, 12.5 x 12.5 cm. SOLD 'Wintry Day at the Beach' oil on primed board, 10 x 13 cm SOLD Click to enlarge.  Copyright Lesley Ninnes.

Painting = fun, play, trepidation, release, balm, struggle, challenge, excitement, frustration, enlightenment, learning, compulsion, happiness.............. 'Rive the Wave' 2004 oil on board 'Lie of the Land 2007' watercolour/gouache on paper 'Northerly Gale' 2010 oil on board Painting is never dull or boring. Click to enlarge.  Copyright Lesley Ninnes.

This most recent seascape is the result of reworking an abstract artwork.  The rich reds and oranges of the original have provided a vibrant underpainting and influenced my choice of warm shades for the sand and even the rocks.  The red/orange base can be seen where the wave breaks on shore.  Thick impasto was applied in main by knife. 'Rising Tide' image size 34 x 37 cm. Detail Detail Plus, the original frame was to hand - see various views below.  Framed dimensions:  51 x 54 cm. For sale soon, in Art Space Gallery probably.

Paintings in acrylic and oil on deep edge canvas, unframed.  Below is 'Low Tide & Headland' 46 x 61 cm. Detail Detail Detail 'Reef' 75 x 61 cm. Detail Detail Detail 'Lie of the Land 2011' diptych 92 x 61 cm. Detail Detail Detail Detail I've had fun producing these artworks, keeping everything clean and uncluttered while luxuriating in the use of colour and creating texture and alternating between opacity and transparency.  Click all images to enlarge.