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.
Tag: watercolour
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
In-between days
We are currently having that tug-of-war between the seasons with some days wild and wet, proclaiming that Autumn is asserting its superiority, and others, mild and sunny suggesting that Summer has not yet quite deserted us.
The wild and wet days knock down the Horse Chestnuts from the trees together with some small branches. Some of the fruits split upon hitting the ground giving us a glimpse of a startling white interior and a flash of mahogany of the concealed nut.
All too quickly the bright colours become dull and one has to be quick to grab the chance of a sketch. This was painted on Saunders Waterford 140lb Hot Press.
Street Signage
As this is on the main road into and out of the village, I must have driven passed or into it countless times without thinking about it or considering what was there. Which is probably just as well as the road is busy enough with cars, coaches, pedestrians and a corner just ahead of this scene. There is already quite enough to think about as it is.
Which is why, I expect, it was when I was walking by the other day that the different shapes of the signage caught my eye and made me consider them as a possible painting. From a sketching point of view there is a lot of interest here. As a driver the signage can be annoying as it sometimes blocks the view of oncoming traffic.
Approach through Lansdowne
Having had a little time off from painting recently, I felt a little rusty and so painted this view of the River Windrush as it meanders it’s way towards the village from a hastily scribbled sketch in my studio.
The trees are only just beginning to hint of Autumn if you look closely, so there is still a lot of green around, which is always a challenge. At the moment I mostly tend to use Winsor & Newton New Gamboge (yellow) and French Ultramarine in various proportions, and for the darker areas use more of the blue with a touch of Winsor Violet.
Painted on Saunders Waterford 140lb NOT (cold press) paper 11 x 15″
The wrong field
A favourite spot on a regular walk this morning when all was quiet except for an anxious cow who had somehow absentmindedly wandered quite a way into the wrong field before realizing that she was cut off from the rest of her family.
I was a little worried that she was becoming concerned as she kept calling out to the others as she tried to work out how to reach them. I hung back as she pondered a footpath gate made with humans rather than bovines in mind. Luckily she continued around the edge of the field until she found an opening large enough for her to walk through, which must have been the way she came to be there in the first place.
Once she had the others in her sights she gave a little jump and then trotted off to join them, tail swishing, relief evident in her face.
I was left to contemplate the rose hips and sloes in the hedgerows and was cheered to see the blackberries are turning dark and quite plump, but not quite ripe yet in this little patch, but it won’t be long.
For those in peril in the heatwave
Having spent the morning on non-painterly activities, it was lovely to get outside this afternoon to try a small watercolour.
Given the current temperatures in the high 20s centigrade (almost 80f) I chose somewhere not too far distant and kept equipment to a minimum.
I have painted this barn before but usually from the otherside which is more open. Today, I noticed some cattle at the far end of the field, but the heat seemed to outweigh their inquisitiveness, so I wasn’t worried.
Having worked ouside in the heat before I had already decided to keep the painting small (6×8 ins), but there are other things to bear in mind in such conditions – firstly, be sensible about yourself and don’t stand out under the sun for too long without protection. Use sunblock, wear a hat, keep well hydrated and so on.
If you are working in watercolours you need to keep your paper protected too. Too much direct sun could harm the sizing. Also if the sun is shining directly onto the surface you run the risk of a blinding glare bouncing back into your eyes. Also it will be difficult to judge your colours and tones, so wear a wide brimmed hat to throw shadow onto the paper (it makes you look more like an artist too!), use a parasol, stand under a tree or find some shade. Remember the light, and therefore shadows, will move and so may you have to.
Expect to work wetter than usual. Even if you habitually dampen your paper, in today’s conditions you may find the paper dries before you can introduce any pigment to it. Indeed you may have to make your washes wetter as it has been known for them to dry on the palette before you can get it anywhere near the paper! Mix up enough to be sure it will cover the area you intend it to without it drying into streaky lines. Unfortunately this tends to be trial and error but it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it.
Try and keep the painting moving forward seamlessly and now more than ever don’t obsess about minor details before you have the paper covered. Oh, and remember to take plenty of water with you both for painting and drinking. You don’t want it to evaporate before you are finished.
I was nearing the end when I heard a cough just behind me. Glancing back over my shoulder, I realised the cattle had sneaked up from the lower part of the field and had somehow managed to corral me.
I smiled and held the painting up for them to see. Usually if you are polite they don’t take much notice, but their leader seemed a little irritated. Keeping my materials to a minimum meant they were either in my hands or over my shoulder so I was able to take a few tentative steps towards the gate. The ringleader moved in, closely followed by a couple of friends. I kept talking quietly. I was being manoeuvred and not given much time to look where I was treading. The rest of the herd closed up behind. I had the impression I was being escorted to the exit with the firm message not to come back any time soon.
It must have been the heat!
Happy painting.
Only a step away…
Only a step away from the main High Street lined with shops and places to eat, this pretty corner receives little notice from the many visitors to the village.
Whether you are at home or spending some time at a holiday destination, it is worth searching out the back streets and the less well-known places which can often present the sketcher with some charming views.
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World Watercolor Month
July has been declared World Watercolor Month to promote and connect the vast community of watercolourists all over the world.
Post any piece of art which uses watercolour or gouache on social media and tag it with #WorldWatercolorMonth to raise awareness of this and the charity The Dreaming Zebra Foundation which provides support so that children and young adults are given an equal opportunity to explore and develop their creativity. Reusable art and music supplies that would otherwise be discarded, along with new or unsold materials are donated by individuals and businesses and matched to recipients who have requested materials for arts education purposes in communities around the world.
Check out their website at World Watercolor Month.com
Graham Findlay Watercolours 