Chipping Sodbury, 15" x 11".
Brook Street, a quiet lane off of the main High Street in Chipping Sodbury. A large part of the composition is that left hand shadow, so while it was still moist I drop in a few extra colours, mainly cools like cobalt blue, so as not to leave it too boring. Likewise with the road - it's got some warms and cools there, and some dry brush strokes when all was dry.
Old Sodbury, Cotswolds, 15" x 11".
A variation on a previous painting I had done a couple of years ago. With not having had much snow in the UK over the last few winters it's difficult to muster enough reference photos, so this scene here was totally fictitious but hopefully captures a quiet country lane in the Cotswolds in the middle of winter. My usual 'fat man and dog' are making themselves the focal point.
Brook Street, Chipping Sodbury, 11" x 15".
My favourite paintable street in Chipping Sodbury. I thought the scene lended itself to a portrait orientation this time. Having the light coming in at that angle helps define the cottages and their window details. Plus it helps having a few distant trees behind the roof to help the contour and add a bit of contrast.
Chipping Sodbury High Street, 15" x 11".
A littel experiment here with 1) doing the sky wash, then 2) going in with the buildings base colour while sky still damp. The building wash was slightly thicker in consistancy than the sky wash, and left to bleed together where it wanted to. Then when everything was bone dry, I continued with shadows, forming the chimneys and around the vehicles. Lastly a few dry dark brush strokes were dragged up the road to give it a bit more form.
Painted on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms.
The Plough Inn, Charfield, 15" x 11".
Probably some of the cheapest beers you'll get in this part of the UK and good pub grub as well. While I was waiting for my food I took a quick reference photo on my phone as a basis for the composition. I changed a few things - e.g. the side extension roof tiles were blue-grey. I changed to a sort of warm terracotta to hopefully look a bit more appropriate against the cooler tone of the pub wall. Added a car and couple of figures as a focal point. Also I missed out a bright red parasol in the front pub garden as I don't think it added anything. Dangerous place to take a photo - nearly got run over by a speeding lorry when I was'nt looking.
Watercolour of Chipping Sodbury, 15" x 22" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms.
Russell Mews in Chipping Sodbury, looking down the alley way to the tower of the local Church behind some lock up garages. The mews is named after the famous cricketer and England player who now has a gallery in the town. The Church tower was painted in quite loosely, then the shadows were quite important here - all the different angles and giving depth to small details like the sign on the door and the red bin.
Watercolour of Chipping Sodbury, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms.
Horse Street in the market town of Chipping Sodbury. 200 metres ahead, the road takes a sharp left, and the retail shops make way for residencies. The main was set the scene with the sky done quickly - warm clouds first, then dropped in some cerulean blue. Down to the foreground, it was a yellow ochre patch on the left and a light grey for the road (ultramarine blue and burnt sienna).
Watercolour of Chipping Sodbury, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms.
A well known veg shop in Chipping Sodbury, always marked by van and dutch trollies laden with fruit and veg outside. With apologies to any local residents, but I've emphasised the little dip in the middle of the roof tops - give them a bit of character. Midday and the sun is pretty much behind the buildings and throwing one side of the street into deep shadows. In the summer with the sun being higher, the parked cars offer a bit of contrast against the dark background.
Watercolour of Yate, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms.
Another painting of a Church close to where I live, and a Winter scene and windy day. Just playing with moving the figures around and vehicle to see if the composition works better than previous studies. Bare tree was done with a sword or dagger brush, great for a sharp point and doing branches.
Watercolour of Chipping Sodbury, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms.
Another study of Brook Street Chipping Sodbury, with cottages left and right down to a dead-end and the road turns sharp right to a little bridge over the River Frome. A lot of shade on the right with cooler tone as I came down to road level done with a little cobalt blue. Parked car and man walking a dog hopefully give a bit of interest. Background trees were painted with a battered old brush.
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