Rooftops over Peso

… on a misty autumn day My latest painting, just completed, is from a sketch of two years ago (at the end of September ). It’s a familiar view on my regular journeys into Monchique. I always find the view across these hills awe-inspiring. Finally, I got the wrappings off a new canvas (and IContinue reading “Rooftops over Peso”

A new version of an old favourite…

Many will probably remember my first watercolour of the Caldas de Monchique, back in 2010. This has remained a popular subject for my paintings, and I felt moved to make a new version of this scene. I never tire of making paintings of the Caldas de Monchique, its combination of steep hillsides, interesting buildings andContinue reading “A new version of an old favourite…”

New paintings…

I’m pleased to let you know that amongst all my watercolour paintings (and there are more), I have now just completed an acrylic canvas from my visit to the Watermill at Peso, the Moinho as it is in Portuguese. I first made a watercolour painting from my photograph, which strangely, bears very little resemblance toContinue reading “New paintings…”

Delftshaven

I am pleased to be able to show you my most recent painting, Delftshaven (Netherlands). This is actually constructed from my photograph which I took while there in 2011. The photo was only a small digital image, and some of the details were not easy to make out, which gave me the opportunity to improviseContinue reading “Delftshaven”

First painting of the year is here!

New Year, new painting… I hope you had a good seasonal break and are in good form for the coming year. I have been at home since my last blog, which is great because I have had the chance to do another painting. It was from my sketch of the Caldas, made at the beginning of December. IContinue reading “First painting of the year is here!”

Upcoming exhibition at Galeria de Santo António, Monchique, and a new painting

“Paintings by Liz Allen” runs from 7 March to 6 April 2023 Hello! I was excited to find out that the Câmera municipal / town council of Monchique had offered me an exhibition at the municipal gallery. I’d always hoped for an exhibition there before my time is up in Monchique, as the place hasContinue reading “Upcoming exhibition at Galeria de Santo António, Monchique, and a new painting”

New Year’s greetings and last work of 2022

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a good, peaceful and restorative Christmas and festive season. As I was travelling to the UK to spend two weeks with my elderly mother, I left this last painting of 2022 to show you on my return. It’s the neighbour’s farm again, inspired by a scene when theContinue reading “New Year’s greetings and last work of 2022”

Full moon over Peso

Welcome to my latest painting. A scene set at night, though well-lit by the silvery light of the full moon. The tree in the foreground is the Cork Oak (the tree from which Portugal´s cork is harvested) and I find it´s always an interesting subject to study due to its often contorted shape and theContinue reading “Full moon over Peso”

New watercolour paintings

Over the past month or so, I´ve been busy with a new series of watercolour paintings. An interesting discovery is that the rough paper I´ve used for most of these gives a softer look to the colours. I feel that watercolour shows its features best on rough textured or slightly rough paper, but I likeContinue reading “New watercolour paintings”

Caldas de Monchique – revisited and an online mixed media workshop

My friend, M. ( the same person as from my previous posts) has been taking some online workshops, and mentioned this to me. After a while my curiosity after seeing the results of M. and others, got me out of my comfort zone of familiar working practices just long enough to try one of theContinue reading “Caldas de Monchique – revisited and an online mixed media workshop”