The Water Tower

The Water Tower - oil on linen - 12"x9" 
Private Collection, New York City 

Water Urn, at Tubtalay

Water Urn, at Tubtalay - oil on linen - 12"x9"
Private Collection, New York City

A View from the Pier

Looking Back, A View from Ao Nid Pier - oil on linen - 12"x9"
Private Collection, New York City


An earthy and harmonious palette of colour was used in this selective composition.
Created at Ao Nid Pier, it is one of my favorite pieces made in the open air during my trip.

Below, a detail from this piece and a view of the work in progress on location.

Straw Thatched Huts

Straw Thatched Huts - oil on wooden panel - 12"x 9"

At this stage of the trip I had just starting to loosen up and began to become more fluid, focused and confident when it came to my plein air landscape work.

Painted in intense sunlight, these huts in which my friends Kun Burn, Hanna and Luke stayed captured me.

Located in an open garden space some fifty meters from the beach, I worked quickly and with purpose establishing the placement, design and colour.

- Richard 

Baan P' Gurt

Baan P' Gurt (My brother Gurt's home) - oil on wooden panel - 12"x9"

It is perhaps ten years since I first met 'Gurt' on this island. He is the most wonderful Thai man, and a real islander. His home sits close to the road off the old pier, and just behind the Wat or Temple, where the island monks take residence.

When I first met Gurt, about eight years ago, he used to tend to the land around several coconut plantations which are located close by his home. Now he works on collecting and recycling plastics and other materials which are shipped off to the main land every week or so.

His corrugated iron and wooden home is nested under and shaded by some very mature trees. The soil surrounding is red and mineral rich. It was the perfect place set up camp of an hour or so to create this oil painting in open air.

- Richard

The Blue and White Umbrella

The Blue and White Umbrella - oil on panel - 12"x9"
Private Collection, New York City

Also a pic of me at work on the piece en plein air.

Into the Blue

Into the Blue - oil on canvas panel - 5"x5"- sold

Early one morning I created this little sketch in oils. Working in a limited palette I concentrated on graduated edges, soft to strong. This 'blue effect' lasted only for some moments in the early morning so I had to hold true to my concept for the piece and work fast.

- Richard

Towards Rayang

Towards Rayang - oil on canvas panel - 8"x8"

These islands that are dotted around this area of the gulf of Thailand have also featured heavily in my work over the past few years.
The motif of the Islands represent  for me a Zen like state.
When gazing at them I think about their being, gravity, weight, and their timelessness.

- Richard

Red Rock, Green Ocean

Red Rock, Green Ocean - oil on canvas panel - 10"x10"

The land on which I live on the island is surrounded by these beautiful igneous rock formations.
The rocks are a deep orange/red and have featured in so many of my sketches and paintings over the years.

I love to walk out on them and watch the tide rise over them and drop away to expose them each day.
This piece was painted early one morning at the end of last month.

The Blue Truck

The Blue Truck - 10"x10"

From today I will begin posting the plein air paintings I have made over the past couple of months. I begin painting outdoors again when I arrived on the islands and have made at least 3 pieces every week.
Over this time I have seen a continued improvement in my work and how I approach open air landscape painting.

Looking forward to share these with you all.

- Richard

Bells

Bells - oil on linen canvas - 16" x 12"

Yellow Urn and Frame

Yellow Urn and Frame - 12"x 12"

Another night still I set up in the light box a couple of weeks ago.
Using a very A-symmetrical composition I worked to create a strong somewhat dramatic composition.
Like an actor center stage!

- Richard