Porlock Weir, England, 22" x 15"
A made up scene based on Porlock Weir for a recent workshop. My reference photo was a very dull day, so I added some blue sky and shadows. It was an exercise really in light and shade and introducing a few watercolour techniques like laying down a smooth wash (the sky and water) and timing - letting everything dry for example after the first wash. A bit of fun and not meant to be an exhibition quality painting.
This is my latest video - a trial using a £30 Body Cam clipped to my shirt. Out plein air painting in the village of Norton St Philip near Bath, with the 'Exiles'.
When I think about the setup more and some commentary, I'll post another.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, 300 gms NOT paper.
St Foy la Grande, France, 15" x 11"
A busy road junction in the South West town of St Foy la Grande. What I think worked well was the yellow car and putting in that base yellow colour on the first wash which spread over the surrounding area. I then repeated with a splash of yellow over on the left in the building shadows (I think there was some yellow over there!). It's always a bit tricky to know what to do on the left - on a very bright side of the street - so leave very understated and get in some detail....
Chania, Crete, 11" x 15"
A little exercise in perspective and angles. The scene is an old part of town and some lovely chequered patterns of slabs. So this was done with a couple of washes - the second being the one that creates the patterns using a mob brush and pressing down hard in the foreground to give a thicker line and then lifting the brush towards the distance to get a narrower line. The angled shadows add another area of interest in the top portion.
Bergerac, France, 22" x 15"
A demo from a workshop I did to the Ross on Wye Art Group. Normally when I do my demos to artist groups I offer a selection of about 8 scenes to paint. Then with a show of hands, I paint the favourite one. So on this occasion it was the French medieval town scene that was chosen. I also go for half imperial size as well, just so everyone has a good chance of seeing what I'm doing. Hopefully it went down well.
My latest watercolour demo up on my YouTube channel, with inspiration from a subscriber's photo....
Avon and Kennet Canal, England, 15" x 22".
A plein air at the village of Seend on the Avon and Kennet Canal. Nice spot to do some outdoor painting - I positioned myself under the shade of a road bridge. Only hazard was that I was perched on the side of the canal edge so that I wasn't blocking the tow path! It gave me a nice view though, and the curve of the bridge roof gives a nice frame to the picture. A painting from last year - I must catch up!
St Meard de Gurcon, France, 15" x 11".
A little lane in a little village in the South West of France. Quite a simple view up to the main road with a couple of figures walking into the shade. Old buildings like this need quite a few different colours to give them that faded or old look. As I paint in the walls, there is a main colour but I add others to it like cerulean blue and yellow ochre.
Corsham, England, 22" x 15".
A plein air - I was standing outside the town post office, looking down the high street. Bunting really helps add something to a view looking down the main street with its zigzag pattern leading the eye into the picture and being a frame for the top. A really overcast day, so I had to introduce a bit of light with a shady side to the street and some highlighted car windscreens.
Corsham, England, 15" x 22".
I don't often do churches as a main focal point, but it was a lovely peaceful spot for a bit of plein air painting until some maintenance workers started up their garden brushcutters. I think one of the biggest challenges of painting plein air is loud noise. I just can't concentrate too well. Anyway, I managed to complete things before they got too close! I tried to emphasise all the different angles of the grave stones.