My final two field studies from Devon. What a sense of freedom sitting on the coastal path taking in nature’s colours of fields, headlands and the sea. All else slips away as I work at capturing the lines and diagonals of this stunning coastline. Both works are in gouache and the first one is deliberately loose and fast, I like that it’s leaving ‘things unsaid.’
#freedom #freespirit #senseoffreedom #pleinairpainter #pleinairartist #landscapepainting #landscapeartist #coastalart #coastallandscape #sketchbook #skechbookartist #gouachepainting #mikestaniford
Farewell to far west Cornwall and its wonderful coastline. Just being out in the ever changing weather, painting on the cliff tops and moorlands where the weather influences every move you make, has opened up new ideas.
A special thank you to @newlynartschool for a month long art residency and a studio to spread our wings.
Pendour Cove
Acrylic on board
40 x 40cms
After a brief stopover in Devon we are heading to Greece and the Sporades islands.
#artistslife #landscapeartist #landscapepainter #travellingartist #lovecornwall #pleinairpainting #coastalcornwall #coastline #coastalart #artresidency #mikestaniford
The headlands and moorlands of Cornwall. Working my way through my favorite sketchbook @winsorandnewton 300gsm visual diary. Love the toughness of the paper which easily takes all mediums. All these works in gouache. Some great locations, the stone circles amongst my favorites…such a spiritual place with the Carn on top of the hill in the distance. Hope you enjoy.
The colours of the moorland.
There is a sense of realism, but I don’t necessarily set out with a representational process that will guarantee a resemblance to place.
The horizontals, verticals, diagonals bring a kind of music to the painting. I like tracks that take the eye to the perimeters of the work.
#moorland #landscapepainting #landscapeartist #cornishlandscape #abstraction #senseofplace #contemporarylandscape #workonpaper #acrylicpainting #mikestaniford
As the days here in far west Cornwall go by I’m beginning to feel in sync with the fabric of the landscape.
The distinctive light on this coastline is throwing up some stunning colours and the lines of human intervention are providing diagonals which sear across the terrain.
These recent works really complement my Monaro Plains paintings which are still developing back in my Sydney studio. A show in 2025 is on the cards I think.
I particularly like the geometry in this dyptich on paper, the sky reflecting uncertainty, the flooded tracks hinting at what has been. I like the reductive quality that a process of simultaneously editing and enhancing can bring.
Swipe for details and my original charcoal sketch.
#landscapepainting #contemporarylandscape #aistralianlandscapeartist #visitingcornwall #acryliconpaper #cornishcoast #cornishart #charcoaldrawing #artistslife #cornishlandcape #acrylicpainting #abstraction #abstractinglandscape #visualgeometry #mikestaniford
Rain-filled tyre tracks across the moorland. The pink heather creating broad sweeps of colour in the distance. Acrylic on paper (2 sheets of A3 joined to create a dyptich).
Swipe to see my original A5 sketch made with pen and marker. I find these sketches made on location absolutely essential and cram as much detail into them as possible.
#landscapepainting #acrylicpainting #acryliconpaper #sketchbooks #sketchbookreference #pleinsir #scribblepad #moorland #australianlandscapeartist #visitingcornwall #newlynartschool #artresidency #mikestaniford
A quick look at the work on the walls and floor. This landscape keeps me busy and the weather changes all the time but that’s half the fun of it.
The marks made on location are a fine balance between an attentive eye on what was there and an exaggerated expression of my own interpretation.
Hope you enjoy looking at them.
#cornishlandscapes #coastallandscape #lovecornwall #worksonpaper #pleinair #australianlandscapeartist #artresidency mikestaniford
Yesterday’s work on paper, the coastal pathway at Bottallack looking east. This coastline never fails to deliver. Once again the tones and marks of my background painting playing a part in the final work.
And a couple of pics of our generous studio @newlynartschool Great to have so much space to pin up the growing number of pleinair works.
#studiolife studiotime #artresidencies #newlynartschool #cornishcoast #cornwall #cornwallcoast #diagonals #landscapeartistoftheyear #landscapepainting #contemporarylandscape #pathways #coastalpath #southwestcoastalpath #australianlandscapeartist #mikestaniford
Acres of yellow gorse and magenta heather across the moorlands on the west Penwith moors. Stunning locations in the unique corner of Cornwall and both the art residency and the art workshop @newlynartschool are going well. Stone walls and sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. More to come.
#moorlands #cornishlandscape #landscapeartist #australianlandscapepainter #visitingcornwall #artresidenfy #artworkshop #lovecornwall #boldcolours #newlynartschool #mikestaniford
Mornings spent out on the north west coast of Cornwall at Bottallack and afternoons in the studio. Swipe to see a second work, slightly different perspective and charcoal sketch that sets the rhythm of diagonals, sweeping down to the cliffs and pathways. They inform the paintings that came later.
I’m particularly happy with the first image, fast and loose and aiming to convey this ancient Celtic landscape. The underpainting as always, makes an important contribution to the final work.
Our workshop, Conversations with the Landscape starts today and @debbiemackinnon and I are looking forward to meeting all the artists and sharing these locations with them.
#cornwallcoast #paintingincornwall #artistsincornwall #landscapeartistsincornwall #artincornwall #contemporarylandscapepainting #australianlandscapeartist #newlynartschool #artworkshop #twoartistsonejourney #mikestaniford
October is season of mists and glorious colour in Italy. Although the workshop with me and @debbiemackinnon in unspoilt Le Marche at the lovely @hotelleone, has been booked out for almost a year, we have just heard about late cancellations and so two new rooms have opened up…
Swipe to see some of my plein air Italian work and sketchbooks. And a glimpse of me in one of Italy’s old hilltop towns.
Would you like a week this October in a glorious hilltop town in Le Marche? All your delicious Italian meals, transport from Ancona airport and daily art tuition from us is included. Do check out link in bio.
All bookings with Madeline at Hotel Leone. The website says ‘fully booked’ but do reach out if interested. Be quick! Not sure this opportunity will last long.
From pleinair sketch in an A5 ‘scribble pad,’ to an A2 work in acrylic on paper. Those initial marks in black and white tell you so much and guide the way into a larger painting. Swipe to see how one compares with the other.
Here in Cornwall, @newlynartschool we are preparing for the start of our workshop on Thursday by getting out to the coast and the moors; investigating the landscape and planning where we will bring the artists. The weather is giving us some great opportunities and the studio is a light and generous space, so it should be a lively and fulfilling week!
#pleinair #pleinairpainting #blackandwhitesketches #studiolife #artworkshop #landscapepainting #cornishlandscape #cornwalllife #artistsincornwall #mikestaniford
A blustery day at Cape Cornwall. A quick study in gouache having first made a couple of charcoal sketches which are an important start. Sometimes I aim to make a record of the landscape subject with just six marks which focused the eye on what’s important.
A Dutch tourist saved my palette when the wind whisked it aloft and I had dogs sniffing around as walkers passed by. All part of the fun of working pleinair and I love the interaction.
#pleinairpainting #pleinairartist #capecornwall #farwestcornwall #lovecornwall #cornishcoast #australianlandscapeartist #australianlscapepainter #visitingcornwall #artresidency #newlynartschool #artworkshop #mikestaniford
The West Penwith coastline is quite beautiful and just a few hundred meters from the small hamlet of Zennor. This is an area close to St Ives with strong associations to British contemporary painters, the likes of Patrick Heron, Peter Lanyon, Roger Hilton and more.
The sketchbook work is in gouache and designed to capture first and spontaneous response to the subject in front of me. Back in the studio I played with an edited version in acrylic, deliberately minimising the composition.
Looking forward to taking our artists through this approach next week when @debbiemackinnon and I will conduct our workshop, Conversations with the Landscape @newlynartschool.
#coastal #coastallandscape #landscapepainting #landscapeartists #cliffs #artworkshop #twoartistsonejourney #pleinairpainting #inthestudio #newlynartschool #mixedmedia #mikestaniford
West Penwith moorlands overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and I am soaking up all the sights, smells and sounds. Gathering information and switched to watercolours. Planning some larger works back in the studio.
#cornwall #moorland #westpenwith #landscapepainting #watercolour #artincornwall #paintersincornwall #australianlandscapepainter #paintingcornwall #newlynschoolofart #artresidency #mikestaniford
Hawthorn trees braced against the wind and rain. Our first days in far west Cornwall on a secluded farm, high up on the moors near Penwith.
#cornwall #moorland #hawthorntrees #weatherbeaten #landscapepainting #acryliconpaper #artincornwall paintersincornwall #australianlandscapeartist #paintingcornwall #newlynschoolofart #artresidency #mikestaniford
Hello Cornwall!
Thrilled to be in the far west peninsula surrounded by stunning coastline and haunting moorlands. Looking forward to welcoming the artists to our workshop ‘Conversations with the landscape,’ @newlynartschool
Swipe to see some of my studies from my last visit.
#landscapepainting #artworkshop #newlynartschool #landscapeartists #pleinairstudies #artteaching #conversationswiththelandscape #cornwall #artincornwall #cornishart #cornishpainters #hellocornwall #mikestaniford
Monoprints and deliberately minimizing the information.
The energy and movement of the drawing component intrigues me. All done with various brushstrokes and scribes. Locations? The NSW Central Coast but it’s wherever you want it to be.
#thelongview #farhorizon #distance #clouds #cloudlovers #cloudsoninstagram #thelongview #australianlandscape #landscapeartist #monoprinting #monoprints #contemporarylandscape #untamedbeauty #diverselandscape #pleinair #mikestaniford
Autumn Gold/Battery Point and
Autumn Scarlett/Battery Point
Each one acrylic on board, framed in Tasmanian Oak and measuring 43 x 53cms.
Both available from @beckerminty
Contact joshuac@beckerminty.com for details
#trees #treestreestrees #treescape #batterypoint #hobart #streetsofhobart #urbanlandscape #urbanlandscapepainting #autumnalvibes #landscapepainting #contemporaryart #artcollectors #artbuyers #artinthehome #mikestaniford
In the studio today.
Gateway to the lake. Plus a few details, some of which could be paintings in themselves and which keep me fascinated with the space between figuration and abstraction. Not that they are mutually exclusive.
Gateway To The Lake
Acrylic on board
43 x 43cms
Framed in Tasmanian Oak
#thelongview #farhorizon #distance #clouds #abstraction #abstractedlandscape cloudshapes #clouds #cloudlovers #cloudsoninstagram #nature #thelongview #australianlandscape #landscapeartist #contemporarylandscape #untamedbeauty #diverselandscape #pleinair #mikestaniford
Wetlands
Acrylic on polyester cotton
101 x 101cms
Now on display at @beckerminty in Potts Point, Sydney. Contact joshuac@beckerminty.com for details.
#wetlands #beckerminty #australianlandscapepainting #australianlandscape #contemporaryart #contemporarylandscape #artcollectors #artbuyers
Patitiri Harbour on the Greek Island of Alonissos. I will be back for a holiday there in September and looking forward to it, as well as the workshop on neighbouring Skopelos with @debbiemackinnon
#artworkshop @artablestudios #greekislands #artistsabroad mikestanifordingreece #alonissos #sporades #greekharbour #workonpaper #acryliconpaper #mikestaniford
Back laneway behind the studios. Immediately to the left, below the air conditioning unit was the back door to our old studio in St Leonards. Crisp winter early evening skies, purple shadows and the lights of businesses are coming on.
A small work, acrylic on paper.
#urbanlandscape #laneways #backstreets #earlyevening #buildinglovers #eveningshadows #workonpaper #acrylicartwork #acrylicpainter #mikestaniford
‘When summer colours fade and rest.’
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
Acrylic on board
40 x 40cms
#thelongview #farhorizon #distance #clouds #cloudlovers #cloudsoninstagram #thelongview #australianlandscape #landscapeartist #contemporarylandscape #untamedbeauty #diverselandscape #pleinair #mikestaniford
A quick look around the studio walls. As I’m heading overseas at the end of next week for three months, I’ve been reviewing where I am at with current ideas and works!
Planning a show for 2025 and there are a couple of interesting directions emerging, which may well develop further during my travels.
#studiolife #studiowalls #worksinprogress #artgalleriessydney #artgalleriesmelbourne #artshow #themesofwork #landscapepainter #landscapeartist
#contemporaryartist #contemporaryaustralianart #mikestaniford