Yesterday started cold and frosty yet with some bright sunshine, and by lunchtime it was warm enough to sit out on the Green without freezing and to enjoy the quietness of a November day.
Author: grahamfindlaywatercolours
I am an artist and teacher based in the Cotswolds, United Kingdom.
Just Added
Two new cards for Christmas 2018 just added. See the CARDS & PRINTS page !
Farm barn
It has been such a lovely day today (for the end of October) that I went exploring down a side road which I don’t usually take as it is not really on my way to or from anywhere. I knew a few footpaths led off it but I was thrilled to turn a corner and discover this barn nestled in the trees.
I used New Gamboge, Permanent magenta and Winsor blue throughout the painting.
Down Station Road
The yellow-gold on the right hand side of Station Road by the entrance to the Manor House as I headed towards the Post Office in the distance added a bright splash of warmth to an otherwise grey morning. The first time I’ve painted since a few days off with a bad back which is now only sore rather than agonizing. At least I can move, although it’s that moment between sitting down and standing up which is still a problem!
On guard
This tree stands guard at the entrance/exit to the car park and filling station. Seen from the road you don’t really take it is as you are usually too busy keeping your eyes on the traffic which can be hectic at times. However, seen from the car park side with the cottage behind it, I thought it would make a good painting.
The Cottage
I pass this cottage any number of times during the week, sometimes without really noticing it. Recently as I went by, it was the light on the foliage in front of the cottage which jumped out at me and made me want to paint it.
I couldn’t stop at the time, but the memory stayed with me.
Although the building may be recognizable, it is not accurate. I didn’t want to make a portrait of a particular place. Many liberties have been taken and the background hardly mentioned at all. As it was the tree(s) which struck me, this was where I tried to keep my focus when I painted it later mostly how I thought it should be.
I hope I have caught the feeling of the place.
Greystones 2
This is a different version of yesterday’s view of the farm barns. Less of what was actually there and more of how I wanted to paint it to give it more of an autumnal/wintry feel. The feeling a subject gives you is just as important to take into consideration.
This one was painted with a limited palette of Yellow Ochre, Brown Madder and French Ultramarine, which in some ways is easier than using a full colour palette as you don’t have so many decisions to make and it gives the painting a certain unity. Also it is interesting to see just what colours you can make from so few pigments.
Which version do you prefer?
Greystones 1
It is good to be able to be outside and still be warm in October. This is a view of Greystones Farm not far from where I live. It isn’t quite what I had in mind though, so if the weather holds I may go back and have another stab at it.
October
Once the leaves start to change colour there is no stopping them and soon there will be more on the ground than those left clinging to the branches above, but there is beauty in all seasons and a lot more still to come.
Chestnuts are not the only fruits –
Chestnuts are not the only fruits of Autumn. At this time of year Pumpkins and Squashes start appearing in shops and stalls in increasingly large numbers. They have certainly caught on in a big way on this side of the Atlantic in recent years and are firm favourites to include in a painting. Here I used various mixes of lemon yellow, cadmium scarlet and permanent magenta
Graham Findlay Watercolours 