Original Watercolours by Tim Wilmot

Alexandria Street 10, Egypt

Landscape Watercolour of Alexandria, 15" x 11" on Bockingford NOT Paper 140 lbs

At first arrival in Alexandria the most common colour you see in buildings are drab browns and greys, but on closer observation you see warmer colours, reds, greens and warm ochres. I wanted to get in this quick sketch a feeling of those hues and the chaos in some of the back streets with cars parked anywhere, overhead cables all over the place, unfinished tower blocks with their upper storeys empty and without windows. But it's a beautiful place and great for painting subjects especially watercolour.

Arrecife, Lanzarote, 4 - a walk around the Charco de San Ginés

Landscape Watercolour of Lanzarote, 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper 140 lbs

Arrecife is the main town on Lanzarote Island and has a lovely enclosed lagoon called 'Charco de San Ginés' just off the town centre.  It offers a nice level walk around the perimeter where you can gaze at the small fishing craft and boats coming and going through the narrow inlet.  In this painting I tried to get a bit of movement with the palm trees - Lanzarote is a windy place at the best of times and a popular spot for windsurfers.

 

Zeytinbagi Turkey 2

Landscape Watercolour of Turkey, 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper 140 lbs

On the Marmara Sea, on the North West coast of Turkey and the quaint fishing village/town of Zeytinbagi.  The town is well known for it's antique timber houses, most of which have not had their exteriors maintained too well, but this gives them a lovely shabby chic appearance which adds to their charm, as does their ochre hues.  A great place to paint, especially when the suns out, and they sell Efes beer!

 

Joseph Zbukvic painting course day 5

Day 5 and the morning exercise was a typical French/Italian market scene in a small square.  It was I guess a practice in composition again, tonal values and light.  As per normal I did not listen 100% to teacher and had slightly modified the example we should have copied.  So mine was probably more Southern Italy in atmosphere rather than France:

My next effort (again a rush job before lunch, so done in 30 minutes or so) was closer to Joseph's style with perhaps less strength in the colours, a bit more subtle and a looser feel to the shadows, background building and figures under the parasols.

In the afternoon I did a quick sketch of the bay in front of the hotel, looking over to the far side of Cadeques.

 

Newquay Cornwall

Landscape Watercolour of Newquay, Cornwall, 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper 140 lbs

Newquay, a popular resort on the North Cornish coast of the UK and a big surfing centre.  There's a long winding high street, the main shopping area,  through the middle of town with glimpses now and then down through to the sea. I thought this view made a good composition with the two sides of the street and a bit of an improvised shadow coming across the front.

 

Albufeira Old Town on the Algrave, 3

Landscape Watercolour 15" x 11" of Albufeira, Portugal, on Bockingford Rough Paper 140 lbs.

Midday in the Old Town part of Albufeira on the Algarve and the shops are starting to close for the siesta. I can remember there was lots of detail in the view in front of me and it was a temptation to paint more detail - the church on the hill and merchandise on the point of sale racks outside of shops - but golden rule for watercolour is try to simplify. I think I could have made those background greens a little lighter and bluer to push them back further. Anyway, next time. If I make a 'mistake' on a watercolour, I rarely try to correct it (e.g. wash it out). I would prefer to disguise it in some way, or better still, do another painting and choose a different subject!

 

San Antonio, Ibiza, 2

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford NOT paper 300 gms

San Antonio is a well known clubing centre on Ibiza especially during the summer months, but during the off peak season it has a more relaxed pace.  This is my 'impression' of a side street off the main promenade with it's palm lined avenues shading the cafes and bars.  I think the foreground worked okay in this painting by not overworking it and definitely keeping it vague.

 

Eivissa Harbour, Ibiza

Watercolour on Saunders Waterford Rough paper 300 gms

The harbour in Eivissa is in the old city, and is a busy marina & ferry port with regular trips over to the island of Formenterra plus other mediterranean destinations.  With a commanding position over the port, the 'high city' of Dalt Vila is a great backdrop, with views over the bay and beyond.

 

Old Town Limassol, Cyprus

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough paper 300 gms

Old Town Limassol on the Greek side of Cyprus, has a typical Greek feeling about it despite some of the Turkish in it's historical past (and the Venetians and the English have had their influence also). I think what rescued this painting for me was the shadow of the external electrical box or whatever, on the old building in the centre. Sometimes adding a little detail even though you think you might ruin the fresh look of the picture, can just pull it back, especially a little shadow or highlight.

 

Mudanya, Turkey, 3

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 300 gms

Mudanya's a prosperous, vibrant town siting on the southern coast of the Marmara Sea (the bit that connects the Black Sea with the Mediterranean).  The wonderful old houses here in the centre of town are characterised with their upper floors being larger than the ground floor.  Not sure why, or whether it's the Greek style, but it makes an interesting subject and offers great shadows for watercolour.