Hebden Bridge

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Painting outside – Calderdale Plein Air

Yesterday, for the second year, the wonderful Craft and Canvas shop in Hebden Bridge have organised their plein air art competition. With over 40 entries and variable weather it would have been impossible to predict what the final artwork would look like. But in a matter of a few hours there was a stunning display of art on show at North Light Studios, all created out and about in Hebden and its surroundings.

Having spent a few hours down beside the river I must say that this was a very friendly event, as well as the supportive organisers and fellow participants, lots of people out in town, some local, some from overseas, some with children, many with dogs (there was a dog show in the park), and many with food for the ducks came to watch for a while and often to chat. Any trepidation about painting in public was soon gone and that is a credit to the place and its people.

Photo of my finished watercolour showing the river and trees in Hebden Bridge

Here are some pictures of where I was working and my finished watercolour painting. I’m also including pictures of some of the other artworks produced.

A preparatory sketch for the general tones before painting
My painting partly completed on my easel
Photo of my easel and stool set up for painting
The winning artwork on show alongside my own painting
More artwork produced on the day
More art produced on the day
The third placed paining showing the hills above Hebden
Some more of the artworks from the day on display at Northlight Studio
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Fun in the “Plein air”

Last weekend’s painting competition in Hebden Bridge was actually great fun. There were about 40 artist in and around the town all producing pictures in a few hours. We were very lucky to have lovely weather which certainly benefitted all of those taking part. During the day many people stopped to talk about what the artists were doing and a good number of the artists had the chance to meet each other, and look at the work in progress whilst stretching legs and picking up refreshments from some of the excellent local cafés in the town.

At the end of the day there was a brief exhibition, the judging and awards, which all took place at Northlight Studios. The whole thing was organised by Greg from “Craft and Canvas” and were some excellent prizes from the shop and from Wallace Seymour who produce high quality paints for artists.

For my own part the proces of working with oil paint for the first time proved to be enjoyable and a great learning experience. I now have a completed A3 sized oil painting of the old footbridge in the middle of town and I’m pleased with it. A few weeks ago I wouldn’t have expected to try oil paints but now I’m busy deciding what to paint next.

Painting of the footbridge in Hebden Bridge
Here is my paining from the event
Some of the prize winning art from the day
Here are some of the winning pieces of artwork
One of the winning pieces painted on glass
This prize winning piece was painted onto glass letting the light shine through the painting