Plein Air and Studio Painting : St Agnes Head Cornwall

An evening spent plein air oil painting at the amazing St Agnes Head in Cornwall surrounded by beautiful heather and fresh sea air.
After a great session en plein air I thought the painting needed a bit more work, so I finished it off in the studio when it was dry.
Watch as I work outdoors in the elements and then in the relative calm of the studio to complete this 12" x 10" oil on canvas.
The colours on my palette were:
Sap Green
Ivory Black
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Violet
Raw Sienna
Indian Red
Magenta
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Orange
Lemon Yellow
Cadmium Yellow
Warm White
I used some turpentine mixed with the oil paints for the initial paint application. I was using a glass palette that was recycled from an old fridge shelf. My easel is a full size Jullian French box easel.
Thanks for watching and please leave any questions in the comments section below.
All the best - Andrew

[@antheablackmore5838]

Lovely video, love your work , thank you

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Many thanks! Thank you for watching 😀

[@carolinegilbert115]

Particularly love the pink path; sets off the painting so well. And love the abstract suggestions for the heather. Gorgeous

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much Caroline

[@freemandodsworth6526]

I really enjoy watching you paint. Your poor brushes! Very nice work.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you. Yes the brushes do take a beating!

[@wavoconqueso]

Love your work. I found the field version had an aspect that I felt added to your painting that the studio version didn’t though. That was the sense of haziness of the far land mss added to the feeling of distance to my way of thinking.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you Ozzy I agree with you - sometimes things get lost while you try to improve a painting and it's almost impossible to get them back. Thank you for your support 👍

[@emilyadams6194]

You are blessed with beautiful scenery to paint in Cornwall and you do it justice. Am impressed by your relaxed, loose but confident painting style. Very inspiring for someone who loves that style but is still trying to achieve it. Its considerably harder that in looks and takes keen judgement to decide what detail to include. Very instructive to see how you sort it out!!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much Emily - I really appreciate your comments 😀

[@carolinegilbert115]

Lovely piece; great colour palette

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you. The magenta was perfect for the heather

[@milurosas2054]

I,m delighted! What colors!💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much

[@amandagleason8641]

Beautiful scene - the magenta wildflowers are amazing

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thanks Amanda. That magenta was perfect 👍🏻

[@jenniek4617]

What a lovely film. Beautiful painting as ever and nice to see some different views and colours. I bet that one will be off to a new home soon...!

[@josewilsondemacedo6176]

Thank you very much!!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

You're welcome!

[@1Thedairy]

That’s a very beautiful result! I liked the way you added a bit of pink to the cliffs which made them glow and how you highlighted the pathway. Such a wonderful composition with all the heather and grasses in the foreground.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thanks so much 😊 - I felt it needed a few tweaks here and there. The pathway was very important to lead into the landscape

[@aeastman59]

wonderful! thanks for showing us your process

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

You’re welcome. Thank you for watching

[@jennifernichols8403]

Great video!....thank you🤗

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thanks for watching!

[@deborahmichaels7458]

Gorgeous colors! Cornwall beauty!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much

[@geoffheath3333]

Another good painting and for me the heather and the sky make the atmosphere tangible.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you Geoff. I enjoyed painting the heather as it allowed me to use neat colours, like magenta, that I don’t usually use so strongly

[@Ppzinha]

Such a beautiful escenary, beautiful painting. Impossible not to get inspired.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed the video

[@justindwyerartistry]

Looks great Andrew. The constant changes of light are the exciting part of painting outdoors I believe. You never know what is going to happen as the colours change. Looks like an amazing spot. Have a great day!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much Justin - it's always a pleasure to hear from you

[@trevorwoodward4970]

Really enjoyed this and also found it really helpful! Thanks

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching

[@davidcraigferguson7356]

Hi Andrew….thanks for posting this…really enjoy your use of colour.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Glad you enjoyed it Thank you for watching David

[@AtelierAhb]

What a stunning spot-I enjoyed watching your painting process.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thanks so much Rebecca 😊 glad you enjoyed it

[@artfervorpaintings]

Lovely

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you

[@judithsayers5021]

I am finding this such an interesting video... I love the Barrowman way with camera work as you never can tell!....and have been watching it in short sections....so fascinating to see the painting evolve, as a beginner painter its very helpful.....and such a beautiful location!! I learn a lot with these videos...

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much Judith! My 16 year old daughter likes to help with the filming and looks after Basil when he comes with us 😀

[@bradad2026]

Like the painterly looseness you've achieved. Our headlands are very different. Greetings from 🇦🇺

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much! It's taken me years to loosen up - I trained as an technical and wildlife illustrator years ago. This gave me a good understanding of drawing and perspective but made my paintings very 'tight' All the best and thank you for watching

[@PleinAirAdventureswithTezDower]

Beautiful work Andrew, Love to paint there. The English coast is stunning. You nailed the tone's good. Happy painting from Sydney Australia 🎨👍

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you Tez I’d love to paint your awesome coastline one day 👍🏻 - love your videos too

[@PleinAirAdventureswithTezDower]

@@AndrewBarrowmanArt Thanks Andrew 🎨👍

[@judywood8200]

Hi Andrew. I just discovered your videos and am quite pleased. I love your style and I love Cornwall....ever since the Poldark series on PBS. I live in the Rochester, NY area of the USA! I have subscribed and will keep watching. I have been an oil painter for 50 plus years. Yes, I'm old!!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Welcome aboard Judy! Thank you for your kind comments. It's raining here in Cornwall this evening but we had some beautiful colours in the sea around St Ives today where I was teaching oil painting. What do you enjoy painting? I would be very interested to learn about your experiences of painting with oils for so long. I've been painting in oils for around 30 years and still have lots to learn. Best wishes - Andrew

[@judywood8200]

@@AndrewBarrowmanArt I mostly like to do Plein Air land or sea scapes. But, I also do flowers, which is also landscape, I suppose. I have painted on the Marginalway in Maine and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Mostly the gardens in my backyard. Always studying. I am in an art club that is 62 years old and we have guest artists sometimes and we have an annual show. Thanks for your response. I will continue watching...wish I were there!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Sounds amazing 🤩 Have you seen work by Peter Poskas? I think he was based in Maine. I have always loved the way he paints light

[@judywood8200]

@@AndrewBarrowmanArt I had not heard of Peter Poskas, so I looked him up. I love his work...Beautiful. To me it has a softness or subtleness. Warmth. Thank you and I will continue to watch your videos. Love your style and love the ocean. Thank you!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Glad you enjoyed looking at his work and thank you for your kind comments about my painting. Hope you continue to enjoy the plein air painting adventures 😃

[@efiparelli625]

We thank you!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

You’re welcome ☺️

[@kvz9863]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

thank you

[@vanderleisantananeves4079]

Muito bom show

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you

[@lewisartuk]

Another great video Andrew. Lovely painting. Congratulations on 600 subscribers. Love the glass palette idea. I just through one out last week. D'oh 😣 Also what's in your little pots? I love them...

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thanks Robin - it is slow at first but gaining momentum now which is encouraging. The little pots are filled with oils, Some have turps and oil mixtures I use mainly in the studio. Happy painting

[@veronicabelly9497]

Hi Andrew, how are you? Where is the dog?.. I repeat, BUT, this view is Fantastic.... And so beautiful your Art!?! 👏👏👏👏👏👏Here only Sun..... Every day.. No rain, never😩😩😩😩😩😩Rome is an Hell....Really,the sea is more distance from my house and I must to be work... 😣OK..... I send 👍👌👏👏👏🙋‍♀️

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Hi Veronica - Basil was there but it was quite close to the cliff edge so he was on his leash well away from the edge. Thank you for watching - hope it cools down for you in Rome soon 👌

[@veronicabelly9497]

@@AndrewBarrowmanArt Andrew, NO, I👂on Tv 40 degrees next week.... 😩😩😩😩😩😩👋👋👋👋HI, 🙋‍♀️😁

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

@@veronicabelly9497 Oh my goodness - that's horrendous

[@veronicabelly9497]

@@AndrewBarrowmanArt YES!!! I Want to go in London, there is my friend... I don't know Andrew.. This town in summer, for me is a nightmare.... 👋For you and all your family... 🙋‍♀️

[@veronicabelly9497]

Yes Andrew,I always, am attention... ALWAYS, but now is more difficult, my friend, Ramona, tell me, there is Delta Covid... 😣A lot of problem... So, now I live here.. There are more better moment. ☺️

[@samueleinstein]

I am constantly ruining my brushes on the initial scrubbing in phase of painting (particularly on canvas, although also on panels). Can you recommend a brush you use that can withstand scrubbing? Cheers

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

That's a good point Sam. I do get through quite a few brushes myself especially if I'm scrubbing onto plywood. I would recommend trying a varnishing brush. If you watch one of my previous videos 'Plein Air Painting Helford River' at 4:15 minutes you will see the varnish brush in the middle of my brush set. It's really good for scrubbing! If you're in the UK Jackson's Art do some great bristle brushes. The flats will wear down at the corners but they then become filberts which is a bonus 😀 I usually look out for sales in the art stores and buy them then. Cheers

[@maria-doloresvazquez-abad4221]

Thank you for filming and posting, Andrew. I subscribed to your channel. I learn a lot from your use of color and alla prima brushstrokes. I use a fridge shelf and recently a glass from an old painting (I recycled the frame and did not need the glass). I used the carboard as you did for the bottom and taped around it: but i made the top tape margin much smaller, so I have a bit more space: my glass is 9 x 12 and fits in my pochade and my scout painting boxes. GREAT IDEA. I film only studio work and I know it is complicated (check my videos). Loli

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Hi Maria-Dolores. Thank you so much. I have just subscribed to your lovely channel. I also use kitchen glass worktop protectors in the studio but they are too heavy to carry out on the clifftops. My studio palette is an old mirror where I scraped off the reflective strip. It's a metre long and has lots of mixing space. Bye for now - Andrew

[@josewilsondemacedo6176]

Oil or Acrílic?

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Oil paints Jose

[@sammijane1640]

Well, it didnt turn out sh!te but did one still go to the St Agnus Rave? :)

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

😅 my daughter would be up for the rave

[@AliBaba-ke5jn]

Oil?

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Yes oil on canvas 👍🏻