Author: grahamfindlaywatercolours

I am an artist and teacher based in the Cotswolds, United Kingdom.

Marigolds on the patio

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It was almost too hot to paint in the 30 degree temperature today unless one could find a patch of shade to stay in. For one thing I did not want to dehydrate or have heatstroke or be barbecued, but more importantly, I needed to think about my materials. It is not always a good idea to paint in full sunshine and intense heat with watercolours. Firstly, the sun’s reflection on the white paper can really dazzle if looked at through unprotected eyes. You also have to wonder at which point the sizing on the paper is likely to melt. So keeping the paper out of the direct sunlight is a good idea.

Then there are the pigments. Remember this is water-colour and water evaporates quickly the more the temperature rises. So if you are used to a more controlled set of circumstances, you might be shocked to find how quickly the paint dries – almost before it reaches the paper. I remember one year, the wash I was mixing was actually sizzling on the metal palette I was using! Try painting a lot wetter than usual or resign yourself to painting much smaller so you can try and keep a degree of control on what happens on the paper.

One other thing – make sure the patch of shade you choose is likely to stay in shade for as long as you need to complete your sketch.

‘Marigolds on the patio’ was painted quickly before the sun hit them directly and also changed my shady refuge.

Archway

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The class painted at the old churchyard today, only the second time we have been out as a group this year! I sketched the archway which stands more or less by itself in the middle of nowhere. Ironwork on the pillars suggest there must have been a gate, or gates, at one time, so was perhaps the main entrance ? It could have been meant as a memorial. I shall have to go back when the Heritage Centre is open and I can read a bit more about it.

Although not quite as sunny as the day before, everyone enjoyed themselves and produced some good work.

Sketched on a double page spread of a Stillman & Birn 8×10 inch Beta portrait format sketchbook.

Cherries and scones

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Our cherry tree continues to thrive despite its advanced age. After a late start, the fruit has proved to be extra plump and juicy this year, and has been much enjoyed by the Blackbirds and their young. Luckily we reached agreement with them about sharing and have managed to pick a few bowls for ourselves to make into jam.

I also managed to get some down in my sketchbook before they vanished into the pot.

Survivor

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Dodging the morning showers, I went to paint the medieval church of a village destroyed by fire in 1684.

The story goes that a local woman wanted to bake a loaf of bread but did not want, or could not afford, to pay the chimney tax imposed by the government of the day. She tried making a funnel from her hearth to her neighbour’s chimney, and succeeded in destroying twenty houses and ending the lives of four inhabitants.

The surviving villagers moved further up the hill and built a new village and church, this time of stone. The old building and graveyard fell into disrepair but were saved again in the 1800’s and are now a heritage site in Churchill, Oxfordshire.

This was painted on a small block of Saunders Waterford Hot Press paper which I quite like. It seems to have a different surface quality than the sheets of the same. It can be used on an easel without having to include a drawing board and is small enough and light enough to hold in the hand if not using an easel.

Garden pots

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Turned out to be quite humid today but not as much sunshine as expected. However there was a brief moment early afternoon when I found an opening to sketch some garden pots with French Marigolds and Petunias before the shadows disappeared again.

No sun, but have flowers.

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As we are lacking natural sunshine at the moment, I thought I’d import some from the supermarket in the form of Sunflowers. Although they are still a little shy, one of them has pried itself a bit more open than the rest, and I have been playing with it this morning.

Everything in the garden is about a month behind where it usually is at this time of year, possibly due to the frosts which kept on coming right into May. We are told things will perk up by the end of the week. Meanwhile, flowers, shy or otherwise, are always lovely to paint.

Summer

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With the beautiful weather we have been enjoying, I had to post something from the garden to celebrate the arrival of Summer. In the world of borders and beds, plots and allotments, things have stepped up a notch, and there seems to be so much to do. I am not sure if the late frosts were entirely to blame for the lack of enthusiasm in the seeds to do anything this year, as there was a lot of time spent trying to find the right kind of peat free compost. Eventually we found one which seemed to find favour and our seedlings are now marching away as happy as anything!