This summertime has been remarkable for its turbulent, stormy weather and rushing, dramatic clouds. My eyes have been consistently drawn skywards to behold a most spectacular and unusual air show. This brooding weather has lifted my spirits, increased my productivity, and filled my head with images and ideas. I never imagined that a wet and windy summertime might have these surprising results. As such I’ve been busy making some work that aims to express these incredible, inspirational skies, and I’d like to share some of my progress with you.

The more I have observed the sky, the more complex and unbelievable it has seemed. I have taken many photographs on my travels, a couple of which I have shared below. But how does one go about painting and drawing skies like these? How does one express the scale; the movement; the ever changing light; or the experience of standing beneath them, for example? I often think of landscape as a mirror that reflects human experiences and emotions back at the viewer. As such, I have considered what these rushing, dramatic skies might mean to me, and why they might have had such an impact upon the imagination? I have also taken some time to look at other great paintings and studies of the sky including works by JMW Turner, John Constable, Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Nash, and Utagawa Hiroshige (to name but a few!); and have sat in the landscape making studies and notes in my sketchbook. I wonder what might develop from this?

Please click on an image below to view in the lightbox.

I’m always interested in reading your comments. Please take a moment to share your thoughts with me, using the form below.

A Cloud – Photograph
Clouds over Morecambe Bay
Sketchbook Study, Watercolour

6 Responses

  1. Wonderfully written, Debbie – I so enjoyed reading this. You are blessed with many talents !

  2. Beautiful work, Debbie. The energy and emotion are very much on display, but always a refuge is offered us, in a stolid dwelling, or just a calm strand. It’s exciting to contemplate more work flowing from this.

    1. Hi David,
      Thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to visit and comment. It is always good to get a response to the work and I love your observation about the refuge offered by the tiny dwellings – We seem so small and vulnerable next to the unstoppable forces of nature.
      Thanks Again, Regards, Debbie

  3. Thank you for the update Debbie and the wonderful works which you present. You certainly have a strong connection to the environment which are evident in your work. Best wishes as always in your exhibits.

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