Dordogne, France,  Watercolour, 15" x 11"

An imaginary scene taking inspiration from the Dordogne countryside and a late summer field.  So straw bales, you can put them where you want to suit the composition.  As long as you observe their format - the texture, a flat bottom because they weigh so heavy and the stubble of the field and where they cut the hay, the bales are lying at right angles to the rows, if you see what I mean.

Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms.

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This painting is for sale. Please contact Tim Wilmot for details.

Dordogne, France, 15" x 11"

Another painting based on a dashcam image of mine.  Do you have a dashcam?  Many people use them now and it's surprising how many images you may have lurking on your device which might make decent subjects for a painting.  So here's mine, a quiet country road in SW France, could be anywhere.  But a play on light and shade and an accidental figure coming towards us.

Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms

My latest watercolour demo video - all about connecting areas of the composition....

Watercolour, 15" x 11"

Bristol Savages, Wednesday night sketch and the topic for the evening - "a good prospect".  So I interpreted this as a god view, here over rolling hills and maybe a location like the UK, Ireland or perhaps France.  There were two main stages to doing the painting.  First step was the initial wash, very weak at first and the stronger greens at the foreground.  Then, almost a second wash starting from the top, defining the far trees, hedgerows, shadows and painting around the houses.  Smoke was added as a last stage with mainly white paint with a hint of cobalt blue.

Marshfield, South Glos, UK, 15" x 11".

The capped top of an old stone wall in the village of Marshfield near to where I live was the focus of this one.  Lots of different lichens and mosses growing over it and the little pig enclosure along side it could also have been another focus.  I had the grass on the right side of the wall, join with the parked car for a bit of continuity.  While the shadows were still damp they had some splattering treatment.

Marshfield, England, 22" x 15".

A plein air painting from a sketching trip last year.  The scene is of a lane leading up to a farm behind the village, with some old barns to one side.  I introduced a few strategic puddles to get some reflections in.  Also when I was doing the first was of the lane, I left out little areas which easily became stones once a shadow was added.  Trees were done with an old mop brush in a fairly loose fashion.  The dark yew tree left of centre was done with thinker pigment and upward strokes to give the appearance of the way they grow.

Saltford, Bath, 22" x 15".

A plein air painting of 'Rivermead Farm' near the banks of the River Avon near Bath.  A nice peaceful place to paint outdoors with no distractions (It's on a short road that ends at the river and a small boatyard).  Apart from that, what attracted me to this scene is the light and the diagonal shadows.  Maybe I could have put in some chickens to make it more farm-like.  The trees were painted in quite loosely with the right hand one being allowed to bleed and drip.

Watercolour of St Raphael France, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300 gms

A view looking through the trees and palm trees running along the coast at St Raphael and over to the other side of the bay.  A chance to run wild with the brush with all those leaves and branches.  Thinner branches and leaves were done with a 'dagger' brush.  Green was mixed with ultramarine blue and cad yellow.  Of course the darks and shadows on the ground went in last.

Landscape Watercolour of South Stoke Bath, 15" x 11".

I mostly have used Bockingford and Saunders watercolour papers over the last few years but decided to try Fabriano's top of the range paper (well cotton I think) in the rough.  It had a stiffer feel compared to Saunders, and had a bit if a shiny surface too.  I think you get accustomed to certain papers, and for me this took a bit of getting used to.  It's a brighter surface and less absorbent I felt than Saunders.  Probably a little rougher than the equivalent Saunders as well.  It would probably be good if you like giving your paper a lot of abuse and rubbing out.  Nice paper, but would need quite a few sheets for me to get used to.

Landscape Watercolour of South Gloucestershire, 15" x 11".

A farm near to where I live with some changes (apologies to the farmer).  The background hedge and trees on the left were painted with an old brush and fairly thick pigment.  Chickens are almost small triangles hovering above the ground, with a bit of shadow underneath them.