Burano, Italy, 15" x 11"
From a recent YouTube demo of mine (video number 34) explaining simplification of a scene (all those buildings in the background), composition, perspective and reflections. And yes the bell tower does actually lean ! Not sure how dangerous it is. Anyway and enjoyable demo. If anyone has any recommendations for a future YouTube video subject, please let me know.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, Cold Press, 300 gms
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Venice, Italy, 22" x 15".
This Plein Air demo was done just a few hundred yards down a canal from the Accademia: the squero di San Trovaso, a small gondola boatyard that first opened in the 17th century. A bit of a challenge with this one was the light coming from behind us, giving fairly same values and no tonal differences to work with. So I decided to make the left hand building dark against the yard and some darks under the wood pile on the left and the workshop interiors.
Painted on Saunders Waterford, cold press 300 gms.
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Venice, Italy, 15" x 22"
A plein air from the first days painting on the recent Venice Painting Holiday I ran. This is Fondamenta dei Penini, just a short walk from the Arsenale Ferry Station. I fairly quiet spot to paint considering you're in one of the busiest tourist destinations in the world. For me, it was the washing hanging out to dry that attracted me to this scene. I had to work quite quickly whilst keeping a commentary going as the foreground shadows were moving fast!
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Avoncliff, England, 15" x 11".
Out with the Exiles plein air painting group. This time a trip to Avoncliff and a sharp right angle bend on the Canal Towpath providing a nice subject. A very peaceful place to paint, only disturbed by a few narrow boats navigating the sharp corner. Painting done with my travel 3-colour palette
Painted on Saunders Waterford, 300 gms NOT Paper
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Venice, Italy, 15" x 11".
A second practice for my up and coming Venice Workshop/Holiday. This time one of the smaller canals that lead into the Grand Canal. Another iconic bridge, this time with some lovely stone balustrades. Not sure yet if this is very common in Venice, but I will soon see. Based on an overcast day and the light coming from the top right.
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Avon and Kennet Canal, England, 15" x 22".
A plein air at the village of Seend on the Avon and Kennet Canal. Nice spot to do some outdoor painting - I positioned myself under the shade of a road bridge. Only hazard was that I was perched on the side of the canal edge so that I wasn't blocking the tow path! It gave me a nice view though, and the curve of the bridge roof gives a nice frame to the picture. A painting from last year - I must catch up!
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Saltford near Bath, 22" x 15".
A plein air painting at the lock gate on the Avon Canal near Bath. This was from last summer (I am trying to catch up with my postings). Liberal use of white gouache for the railings on the gate door - they would have been extremely difficult to paint around. All painted with my limited 3-colour palette which is just right when you are painting outdoors.
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Staithes, England, 15" x 11"
A study of the North Yorkshire coastal village of Staithes, at high tide with a fishing boat coming up the river. Reflections can be soft or hard - soft as in using some wet in wet to get that faded effect, or hard as in waiting for one layer to dry before adding in another layer of water. Here I went for the second option, and trying to replicate the light areas of the boat and buildings in the water. Staithes is lovely when the sun's out.
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Bristol, England, 22" x 15".
A plein air with the 'Exiles' on the Bristol Waterfront. I thought the long cabin of this old barge moored up on the Bristol Waterfront made for a nice composition as it ended and joined up with the background buildings. Its lines lead you into the picture as do the row of smaller craft on the other side of the water. I remember it being a dull day, but perhaps there's a bit of light bouncing off that barge top....
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Bangkok, Thailand, 15" x 11"
From a reference photo from a friend (thanks Feroze!) and an attempt at quite a complex scene - the buildings along the river's edge and the reflections. This was a first attempt by me of a scene from this part of the world. I had to make a strong effort to stop painting - with all that detail in the buildings, you could have gone on an on, and could have lost a fresh and loose feel to things. Hopefully it worked out.
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