Bruges, Belgium, 15" x 11".
A bridge over one of the many canals in central Bruges. Against my better nature, I am painting with the light behind me, and luckily there's that dark narrow street in the centre. The building on the left had a large '1614' written oni t in large numbers and the one on the right '1608'. Well I try not to replicate my photo exactly, and introduced a few more shadows (up the middle there and not to leave the foreground a bit boring) and a few more figures.
Bruges, Belgium, 15" x 11".
The trade mark 'crow-step' gable end to the buildings in Bruges, Belgium, and those lovely warm red brick walls (chance to use all my reds - light, cadmium, alizarin crimson...). So here's a busy scene of a square in the city, and perhaps one of the many beer houses or chocolate shops. I added in quite a few figures walking in all different directions, with most of their shadows connected - made easier with the light coming from the side.
Tavira, Algarve, 15" x 11".
The small Chapel "Capela de Nossa Senhora da Piedade" in Tavira, a very old part of the town, and in a fairly small square in the old part of town. Quite pleased with how this turned out with the shadows connecting the various parts of the painting (maybe I could have dragged the Chapel shadow to connect with the figure or car on the left?) and just enough figures to add a bit of interest and a focal point.
Watercolour of South Stoke, 22" x 15" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms
A Plein Air demo done for a local art group. Subject is a wonderful old house in the centre of South Stoke Village with commanding views over the valley below. I am not sure if I did the colours of the stonework justice - they were really glowing in the morning sunshine. And coming up the lane is my normal 'man and dog' to give a bit of scale.
Watercolour of Mijas, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms.
The Moorish watch tower in the seaside town of La Cala Mijas on the Costa del Sol. A painting of warm vs cool and ark vs light. the little bit of texture on the castle walls was done by dropping in some cobalt blue while the wash was still damp, then when moist, flick in some clear water - just a little bit. Has to be timed just right, as leave it too late and there's no effect or do it too early and you just get a soft lighter spot.
Watercolour of Venice, 11" x 15" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms
The Rio dei Barcaroli from the bridge of Piscina de Frozzaria. Steps for this painting, 1) initial wash starting with the sky and working down, added yellow ochre in the middle and then the canal wash going darker at the bottom. When dry, 2) background and right hand buildings, painting around window details. Then 3) the left hand building. A lot more detail on this one, plenty of cad red to build the colour and paying attention to the perspective. Last 4) water reflections in mainly a cobalt tone and boat details.
Watercolour of Bath, 22" x 15" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms.
Terrace Walk in central Bath, and being quite a wide street, a popular dropping off place for tourist buses and tours. View here is towards the Abbey Hotel with it's battlement like parapet roof. The painting is based on a photo I took on my phone camera (always best taking pictures on a phone at the lowest resolution as it forces you to be a bit more imaginative with the composition and details) in early spring and quite a sunny afternoon.
Watercolour of St Tropez, 22" x 15" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms.
The small but perfectly formed La Ponche beach in the old part of St Tropez and a little off the beaten track. Anyway, I thought it made a great subject, mainly for the old buildings running down to the water's edge and their lovely warm tones. The beach was painted fairly roughly - a splattering of clear water while still damp and some dry brush strokes dragged across.
Watercolour of Exeter, Devon, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300gms.
A quickish sketch of a view looking down Queen Street in Exeter and the central part of the city. I think the main building in front is now a coffee shop. The sky wash while still moist, had bits lifted out with a paper towel to make the clouds on the right. And the ochre wash of the main building had drops of extra pigment added to make it a little more interesting.
Landscape Watercolour of Bursa, 15" x 11".
The Muradiye district of eastern Bursa. A very old part of Bursa with the foothills of Mount Uludag as a backdrop. Apart from the complex of 600 year old mosques, there's like in my sketch quite a few blue and brightly painted houses with well defined frames around the windows painted in a different colour. Down in the valley is the more modern part of the city sprawling northwards.
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