Oil on 6x8 board. July 2025.
I spent a week away in Cornwall and stayed on the Mount Edgcumbe estate which is a beautiful park just over the Tamar. From here you can walk around to the beautiful villages of Cawsand and Kingsand. When exploing the gardens I came across a pond with water lillys - the way the light hit them struck me and I felt compelled to paint them.
The next day I woke with intent and was out the door early doors to fing my spot to paint. Cool air, wandering along taking it all in. I wasn't entirely certain this was the place - but it excited me. I have increasing experimented with using the palette knifre more and more asit creates unique mark making effects - and this time it became a big feature in building up the composition. I loved building up this textured finish.
It is an excellent example of me letting go with the painting and let it flow. I find studio work can be contrived and lack energy, whereas the pressures of time and weather can really impact time of creation which can add wonderful energy to image.