The refreshment caravan in Clyne Gardens in Swansea has become a popular fixture. I painted it on a warm spring day when it was doing brisk trade. All the people shown in the picture were there on the day but not necessarily at the same time. I painted them quite quickly as they came and went. I was aiming to capture a moment in the Gardens and was keen to set the van in its park setting. I enjoyed painting the dappled sunlight. I refined the details when I got home, for example to adjust the tones in the shadows. I find that if I put the picture up somewhere for a while, I spot the things that need sorting out. Oil on canvas. 61cm x 51cm. Sold.
The busy caravan and a corner of the painting at a very early stage
This is the picture at the end of painting on site, before refinements made at home. Amongst other things, the faces are just shapes and the shadows need more form and consistency. The light changes too much to keep painting for very long on site. Also, a steady hand helps with detail, which is difficult standing at the easel.