Landscape Watercolour, Staithes, Yorkshire, 15" x 11" on Bockingford Paper 140 lbs.
One of my favourites sketches of Staithes and capturing a rare sunny afternoon (well rare for the summer of 2012 in the UK anyway!). It's a fantastic location to paint and this was picture/composition was adapted from a holiday photo of mine. I think if I had painted from this viewpoint, I would have been blocking the main street running down to the sea.
Landscape Watercolour, Alexandria, Egypt, 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper 140 lbs.
Another street market view in the central area of Alexandria fairly close to the port. Yes the parasol covers are really low in places, and maybe they all started off life in different colours but the strong sun has bleached them all to a neutral shade. And just above the parasol level are a spaghetti like conglomeration of wires going backwards and forwards between the buildings.
Landscape Watercolour, Turkey, 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper 140 lbs.
Zeytinbağı is the new name for the old Greek town of Tirilye, and is a very pleasant place on the Marmara sea with lovely Tea Houses, Cafes and Restaurants (nice Fish Restaurants here or Turkish name 'Balik'). Apart from the busy fishing port, the architecture is a great attraction with the old timber houses and their upper floors larger than those below.
Landscape Watercolour of Staithes, 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper 140 lbs.
Known to the locals as Steers, Staithes is a popular destination for those looking for a break in a picturesque North Yorkshire village. Steeped in history, the town is the former home of Captain James Cook who moved to Staithes in 1744, and who soon fell in love with the sea. If you come to the town by car, be prepared for a fairly steep walk down from the car parks above town (unless you can be dropped off of course).
Landscape Watercolour, Alexandria, 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper 140 lbs
Another Alexandria street scene and I think there's loads more to come as I took many photos on my visit. They lend themselves so well to watercolour with the lights and the darks. This was quite a busy scene and working to a quarter sheet which is my norm, you have to decide what to leave out and it came down to missing cars and people - so imagine many more of both. I've left in the trademark yellow-topped taxis and ladies in traditional dress.
Landscape Watercolour of Florence, Italy, 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper, 140lbs
This was a bit of an experiment. Unfortunately I have not been lucky enough to visit Florence in person (although I studied it's architecture for my 'A' levels a long time ago), so I succumbed to the resource of Google Maps and Street View. The challenge of course is the camera taking the shots is far higher than normal eye level so you need to compensate on the perspective a bit and the image was a bit shady so I had to invent my own shadows and people of course! Hopefully I did the scene justice.
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!
Landscape Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper
View South along the bay in Alexandria. I am constantly experimenting with the rendering of palm tree leaves (of the Date palm variety). The main trunks are normally an easy choice - one thickish dry brush stroke and a bit darker at the top or bottom. But then the leaves, I flip between doing them with a rigger brush, or a sword brush or even a smaller pointed mop. This time I elected for dry brush strokes on the foreground tree and ditto for the shadows. Must try not to put on too many leaves else it looks over worked or false and aim not to make it too symmetrical.
Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper 300 gms
Centre of Bodmin Cornwall and the late summer sun streaming down from the west, lighting the perimeter buildings. I had a bit of fun with the tree on the right - there were very large trees along the road side and I let the wash on the trees do their own thing and join up with their shadows. It made for quite a nice effect and it was a temptation to get in there and correct the flow.
Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper 300 gms
Shire Hall, Bodmin, with it's imposing solid granite front facade, and a little square in front, was built in the 1830s to house the county assize courts (criminal courts). The courts were moved to Truro in the late 1980s and the building now houses the town Tourist information centre. Had to get the cornish flag in there with the white cross on a black background. The bunting was out I think for the Olympic celebrations.
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