Woodbridge

Back to classes today. The exercise was to create an ink and wash picture, but putting the first wash on before the ink. An interesting twist and it made it fun, but the finished product is not my best. Too much detail on the buildings and not enough on the COF the boats.

Invitation to paint - Mexico

Missed class last week. The invitation to paint for October on Wet Canvas was based on two reference photographs of Mexico. Great fun, but much more difficult than expected. I altered the image to give a view of the surrounding terrain through the arches, in order to add depth.

Paper Weights

No posting for a couple of weeks, as we have started classes again, and as Jean would say "haven't done any proper pictures" yet. After practising our drawing techniques and mixing colours wet on the paper directly last week, we applied that to a still life this week.

It is very loose and not all that representational, nevertheless I am quite pleased with it.Some of the colours are great, and no mud in sight.

Stanmer Park

The last Wednesday painting morning of the season was at Stanmer Park near Brighton University. An amazing place with a grand house, church and village. The weather was not kind and only 4 of us made it. After about an hour we had to run for the cover of the tea rooms. This was finished off at home.

Deer Island

We are off to Barcelona tomorrow until Sunday, so I shall miss the painting trip to Stanmer Park on Wednesday.

Of the dozens of paintings done over the last few months, very few are landscapes, and it was time to address this fear. A photograph by Sundiver from the Image Reference Library on Wet Canvas was chosen and this is my interpretation of the photo.

Now I know why I avoid landscapes - the level of detail I feel compelled to include means that they take absolutely ages. Some lessons need to be learned from my friend Reyma (aka Marcel) on WC who would have knocked this off in about 20 minutes!

Boxgrove Priory

Half a dozen of the class turned up at Boxgrove Priory yesterday. It was a lovely morning and there were lots of painting opportunities. The ruined cloisters drew me, especially the leaning column, but I took lots of photographs for future reference.

The painting was completed within 2 hours, with lots of stretch breaks in between. The lighting of the leaning column and the composition I am pleased with, but it is rather "rough". Depsite this I have decided to keep this version and not repaint it at home.

Swaledale Ram

The trip out to Kingston last Wednesday did not result in anything great. The painting of the church, including the Tapsell gate, was too similar to others I have done better. Still it was great to meet up with some of the class, the weather was good, and the "lemonade" at the Jugs afterwards was fun.

The September Invitation to Paint on Wet Canvas is Northern English sheep. This was painted from one of the reference photographs. The colours are deliberately wild and exaggerated, and a portrait was done, because I'm still not confident with landscapes.

Harry will like him - Baa!