Montpon Menesterol, France, 15" x 11".

A plein air I did quite a while back.  Quite a warm day so everything was drying very quickly and sometimes when the strong sun is coming towards you it can be more of a challenge to pick up tonal values.  Hopefully I have given the impression of shoppers going about the place and market vendors parasols lining the street.

Venice, Italy, 15" x 11".

A third practice for my up and coming Venice Workshop.  This time a row of moored boats and some sun coming over the tops of some buildings.  I'm hoping for some sun when I go.  Rather depressing looking back at all my cloudy and over cast photos from 2012.  Reflections in water are a lot easier with as big a mop brush as you can get away with and which has a nice point or flat edge to it.

Venice, Italy, 15" x 11".

A second practice for my up and coming Venice Workshop/Holiday.  This time one of the smaller canals that lead into the Grand Canal.  Another iconic bridge, this time with some lovely stone balustrades.  Not sure yet if this is very common in Venice, but I will soon see.  Based on an overcast day and the light coming from the top right.

Venice, Italy, 15" x 11".

A practice for my up and coming Venice Workshop late September.  This painting is based on a photo I took on my last visit there in 2012 (I think).  It was cloudy every day on my last visit, so hoping for some sunshine on this next one.  When painting Venice, I try to think what are the trademark things that speak Venice.  So of course it's these narrow canals with buildings either side, the angular tops to the foot bridges but a round arch, the lighter colour border around windows, barges and small craft, and the tall mooring posts.

Bath, England, 15" x 11".

A classic subject for a watercolour - street scene looking down the road, some lights and darks (e.g. the car against a dark background), some angular shadows and bits of detail here and there, but still trying to keep it loose.  I try to get some soft edges to long shadows by wetting the paper where the edge will be with clear water.  While it's still damp I add the shadow - from the beginning of the shadow to the end, so it's a sharp edge at the start.