Welcome to my blog and thanks for visiting....
My first entry so I will start at the beginning...

My introduction to impressionist painting - 'La Grenouillere'

Even before I started to pursue painting in 2005 at the age of 25, I was always drawn to the impressionist style of painting when visiting both contemporary galleries and museums housing the works of old masters.

A couple of months before a trip to New York in 2005 (where I was taking part in the New York Marathon for my sins), I had begun 'messing around' with some oil paints for the first time as a casual weekend pursuit.  After successfully completing the gruelling but beautiful 26 mile circuit around New York City, I had one day of recovery before flying home, so I decided to 'hobble' around the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The Museum was seriously impressive and the collection of impressionist works was awe inspiring.  Then i stumbled upon a work by Claude Monet entitled 'La Grenouillere' which I was transfixed by.. at the time I muttered to myself 'I want to be able to paint like this'.  On my return to the UK, I started my own renderings of some of Monets work, including 'La Grenouillere'. 

Below is one of my first paintings - my attempt at Monet's 'La Grenouillere'...



Whilst at this very early stage of development I had little knowledge of the techniques underlying Monet's approach, the practice of rendering some of Monet's paintings was a valuable exercise in developing a feel for loose expressive brushwork.

I think the practice of rendering old masters work that inspire you is a useful exercise in developing, whether a beginner or more advanced painter.  Certainly from my own experience, as an entirely self taught painter, it was very beneficial.