Monday, July 29, 2013

Tilbury Rock

We're back from our annual 2-week wilderness camping trip to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was GRAND! And even better because I painted…a lot! This is the first painting I did. Legend has it (at least in the Ferguson Family anyway), a luxury ship called The Tilbury crashed on the rocks off this coast many many moons ago. We've always called it Tilbury Rock. Some people are still hoping to find treasures here. ;o)

So... on to my plein air experience...
Just before leaving I’d ordered a Pochade box for myself so I could try plein air painting in earnest.  I wanted something small, lightweight and simple to set up and use. I decided on the 6”x8” thumb box from Guerrilla Painter. All my paints and the turp filled brush washer fit inside the box under the palette. I also ordered the world’s smallest brush cleaner (a tiny leak proof covered plastic cup with its own removable insert).  There’s also a cool easel adapter that slides into the top part of the box allowing for more panel sizes. And lastly I ordered a universal tripod mount. If you order it with the box, they install it for you. Nice!
 
On the first beautiful day I set off carrying my equipment. I wasn’t going far so just carried the tripod, Pochade box, brushes and paper towels.
I chose a spot overlooking the ocean to set up.


Before leaving home I had created a brush holder by drilling several holes in the cover of a plastic container. I attached it to the pochade box with a thick rubber band. I also used a couple of small bungee cords to slip though my paper towel roll and hook onto the rubber band. The towel holder worked perfectly….but not so for the brush holder which I’ll talk about in tomorrow’s post. 

 Here’s my set up with paints ready and panel adapter in place. 

Not a bad view!

Putting in the finishing touches…wild white beach roses. Day 1 of plein air painting was a blast! And much to my surprise, being very comfortable with the ease of studio painting, I was eager for more. I'll be posting the paintings I did and more images over the next week.
Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 + $10 domestic shipping 
or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

5 comments:

suzanneberry said...

This is an amazing post and an amazing painting! Beautifully done my friend. and thank you for sharing your time in this incredible place, it's breathtaking!

Carol DeMumbrum said...

Beautiful job! Thanks for sharing you box and gear! This is the same box I have. I love how you included the extras. The only thing I don't like is the size of the palette space, so I have been holding mine. I am messy and needed more room to make a mess. :)

Angeli said...

Your day painting outside sounds lovely! Cape Breton is a beautiful part of the world.
I love the soft colors of the sky and the loose brushstrokes you used for the bushes and flowers.
Enjoy the rest of your time in N.S.!

Cindy Williams said...

Brenda you can feel the "serenity" in this painting. And I love it that you added steps to the post, with your setup and easel... Thank you for sharing, you have lovely work!

Art Maine said...

Gold at Tilbury Rock

On a worse-than-foul weather day
in 1759, the
HMS Tilbury ran
aground and was lost with the pay
for the British troops who had beat
the French in Louisbourg, Nova
Scotia, well over a million
dollars in gold. Years later, in
2013 gold was found
on a sunny day at this spot,
gold in pinks and blues and hues of
greens and yellows and white as art.

HMS Tilbury
British Royal Navy warship: 60 guns / pay ship
Length / Beam / Draft (feet): 147' / 42' / 18'
Tonnage: 1,124
Built: 1745 at Portsmouth, England
Cargo: gold coins; troops, including 50 grenadiers of Warburton's regiment.
Wreck Location: Tilbury Rocks, near Saint Esprit Island, East of Louisburg

"HMS Tilbury (Captain Henry Barnsley) was part of the fleet in Holburne's expedition against Louisbourg. The fleet was dispersed by a violent storm on the 24th September 1757, which badly damaged most of the ships. Tilbury however, was driven ashore and Capt. Barnsley and many of the crew and troops (280) drowned. The survivors were made prisoners by the French."