Porthleven Cornwall, 15" x 11"
Quite a loose one of a similar painting I did a while back, but as I sometimes do, go back to a previous subject and try a different approach. So this was 1) looser and 2) include more boats in the harbour. Bit of a muted palette which I think helps the scene - it could be one of those days when the Atlantic Mist is coming in.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms paper
Vernazza, Italy, 15" x 11"
A simple sketch using the format of a shady foreground, a brightly lit background and some silhouetted figures on the harbour wall. A suggestion of a row of boats moored up on the right with some simple reflections. As I regularly do, I like to connect the different elements up in the picture - the shadows to people, the right hand figure to the boats and so on.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms.
Alexandria, Egypt, 15" x 11"
A dusty street near the port of Alexandria. Here I am trying to convey a feeling of a hot day, a busy road, a bit of dust (which is probably unavoidable in this part of the world) and smoke. There's a lovely mosque here with it's minarets towering above the street and the side of the dome catching the light. A liberal amount of splattering has been used here and some lifting out of colour on the road surface.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms
Devizes, UK, 15" x 11"
A third plein air after a hearty lunch and a pint of Wadworths of course (The Wadworths brewery is in the town). This is the Corn Exchange. It was getting rather cold and windy by now, so this was done in about 40 minutes. The market had packed up and so was I. Just a really simple scene and those can be the most enjoyable to paint. Had a bit of fun with the splattering for the foliage effect top right. Thanks to Frank and Mel, fellow Exiles for staying on.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms.
Devizes, UK, 15" x 11"
My 2nd plein air on a recent trip to Devizes, done in about 30 minutes, so I had to crack on or I would miss lunch and a pint with the 'Exiles' Painting Group. So a contra jour which I like doing and an amalgamation of cars on the street - just thinking about shapes. A banner across the street is a handing thing to join the two sides from a composition point of view.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms
Devizes, UK, 15" x 11"
A recent trip out with my friends of the 'Exiles'. Location was Devizes in Wiltshire - a market town in central Wiltshire, and we were there on Market Day! What luck. As soon as I arrived in the centre, here was the scene in front of me from the other side of the street. I looked at it and thought triangles and 45 degree angles. So a lot of repetition - the market stalls, the shadow on the van, shadows coming from the monument on the right, and so on.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms
Devizes, UK, 15" x 11"
A recent trip out with my friends of the 'Exiles'. Location was Devizes in Wiltshire - a market town in central Wiltshire, and we were there on Market Day! What luck. As soon as I arrived in the centre, here was the scene in front of me from the other side of the street. I looked at it and thought triangles and 45 degree angles. So a lot of repetition - the market stalls, the shadow on the van, shadows coming from the monument on the right, and so on.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms
Marseille, France, 15" x 11"
A view along the harbourside in Marseille with a fish market on the left and some small fishing craft moored up on the right. Another exercise in simplifying what you see. Reduce the background buildings to shapes, and just put in a few windows. The market on the left has to be just suggested, or I think it would take the eye of the viewer away from the centre and the boats.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300gms
Bristol, UK, 15" x 11"
A view up Park Row in Bristol towards Trenchard and Red Lodge. Looking at it now, one thing I must now do is put in the synchronised walkers. It would have been nicer if their legs were different. You can't change watercolour or to some extend your initial outline drawing. That's why planning is so important and getting the initial drawing right as regards composition etc...
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms.
Fabriano, Italy, 15" x 11"
Yes, Fabriano where the other paper comes from. Based on a photo of mine from a visit a few years ago. It's sometimes a good idea to keep going back over older reference photos and those you dismissed before, maybe suitable now, especially if your style of painting has changed over time. Which was the case with this one. I jazzed it up a bit with some people (my photo had none or they were way in the background).
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms