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Venice, Italy, 15" x 11"
The right hand tower and the entrance to the shipyard. Maybe an interesting angle to paint just the one tower and part of the footbridge. I introduce a few figures in the foreground, connecting with the background shadows so that I can get a bit of contrast with their lighter clothing. Also I have simplified the parapets along the wall of the museum on the right, but still try to get the perspective about right.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms.
Porthleven, Cornwall, 15" x 11"
A painting based on Porthleven and looking out to sea through the Harbour mouth. Strictly speaking not totally accurate because there's no land looking south out of the harbour, but it's a partially made up scene with various fishing boats and a lone figure. I like introducing some reflections eve thought it's low tide, so a small pool does the trick.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms
San Sebastian, Spain, 15" x 11"
A street scene based on the Avenida de Descubridores in La Gomera, Spain. From a composition point of view, I had these dominant white shapes on the left, so I balanced this with some figures on the right. The largest figure, I try not to have too close to the middle, again thinking about balance and to me "just looking right". Quite a simple background - palm trees in silhouette are so much easier than deciduous trees in my opinion!
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms.
Mijas, Spain, 15" x 11"
The Plaza de la Constitución in Mijas - a spacious square in amongst the narrow streets of this pretty hillside town on the Costa del Sol. Done with my 3-colour palette and quite a simple composition with the corner of the square, looking into the sunlight and the palm tree almost mirror-imaged in its own shadow. The major fronds point towards the figures in the street. Very loose detailing of the windows on the buildings.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms.
Exmouth, Devon, 15" x 11"
A little inlet off the Exe Estuary in Exmouth. A row of boats at low tide and private homes backing onto the water's edge behind. Sometimes accidental figures appear from just leaving bits unpainted. And so it was with the two figures behind the main yacht. The front of one figure was added to with head and shoulders and then a companion was added with some highlights and a face. A watercolour incident.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms
Calle de Mijas, Spain, 15" x 11"
The main street in this coastal town on the Costa del Sol, Spain. As usual with pedestrian crossings, I like to rough them up a bit by either doing some dirty dry brush strokes at the outset, or in this case, splattering in a few directions to let the wet wash of the road travel down the paper and stripes a bit. Just a little. Also, a touch of lost and found with the trunks of the palm trees in the distance.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms.
Sidmouth, Devon UK, 15" x 11"
A warm up for the up and coming Bristol Savages visit to Sidmouth Devon, and plenty of plein air opportunities. Hope the UK weather stays good for us and there's no rain and plenty of sunshine. This is a sketch based on a photo I took on a visit a few years ago in Autumn. Lovely sea front with large Victorian style buildings. Just had to get in a large Ice Cream sign for effect...
Painted on Saunders Waterford Cold Press Paper 300 gms.
Pisa, Italy, 15" x 11"
Just down from the Tower of Pisa, a wide street and a lovely shadow across a building at the back of a square. I have videoed this but undecided whether to publish or not. I think the theme would have been something like how to make dominant shadows a bit more interesting rather than a big dark area. Well please let me know if you think it would make a worthy YouTube video!
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press 300 gms
Watercolour 15" x 11"
Bristol Savages Wednesday sketch night and the topic for the evening was 'Safely Home'. Many of us chose a nautical theme - boats returning to harbour etc... So I too, a scene perhaps of some beached fishing boats and fishermen discussing the days catch?? Maybe. A fair number of watercolour techniques in this - especially on the boats with wet in wet abd dry brush strokes along the hull.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press Paper, 300 gms.
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