This is a loose impression of the River Cole flowing around the outskirts of Shard End in Birmingham. It's pleasantly surprising what you can find to paint if you look around, even in a city as ugly as mine!
They've even cleaned the lake (opposite the fair) near to where I live in Stechford as part of the Kingfisher Project. The last time I went there I had to literally step around the bird s**t and dead animals as I walked around with my young son.
9 comments:
Lovely wispy, fresh looking watercolour painting Steven. I am struggling with my wet into wet techniques these days and have even bought a natural sponge today to try some sponge trees to console myself! Hope your watercolour book will be out soon.
Happy painting!
Nice work Steven. I've been following your example and using bigger brushes recently. I was using just one size 12 or 14 for the whole painting, but I've been trying a larger wash brush. I like the freedom it gives you, but I'm not sure I want to go as far as a hake brush though.
I like the new look of the website by the way.
Hi Keith, I’ve used a big brush ever since I saw Ron Ranson’s Big Brush Watercolour video. Since then I’ve always used his large hake brush. I probably do at least 95% of the painting with the hake and then use a flat for anything that needs a straight edge and a rigger for any finer detail such as figures or grasses etc. And that’s it, just the 3 brushes and 7 colours for every painting I do. Keep it simple is my motto!
Hi Caroline, I thought the comment on your blog about doing the 100 washes to become more intimate with your palette was something worth considering, though in saying that, personally I’d probably get bored and end up just bashing away at some paintings until it all came together. Unfortunately there are no short cuts and it just boils down to practise, practise and more practise!
The book will take the same format as the last one (no colour yet I’m afraid!) It’s a painting of Loch Goil and I’ve used the frames from the video I made of me painting it for the photographs in the book. The video can be seen on my YouTube channel. I also picked up on something Keith (above) said and tried to include a little of the local history.
Hi Steven, I understand about the book having to be in black and white and don't worry that is ok. You know I have an old book by the artist Ron Ranson and most of it is in black and white. Yes, beginners would struggle not being able to see colour but I think that all artists need to get back to basics and will really benefit from your watercolour tutorial book on loose watercolour painting techniques. In my watercolour classes that I hold twice a week I have experienced painters and also beginners, everyone loves the challenge the watercolours give them! you just can't control the paint! that must be the appeal. I did a sponge tree painting this afternoon with glazes and working in darker tones by brush. My watercolours have always been more layered (paint a wash then let that dry etc)than wet into wet. While that is successful I really would like to work more wet into wet, as Maggie said on my blog (thanks for visiting) it is down to practise. I did watch part one of your lovely Loch Goil on you tube but you were away for the second part. I will look again. It does help to see the demos.
"...just the 3 brushes and 7 colours for every painting I do. Keep it simple is my motto!"
Yes I agree. I'm using two brushes (occasionally three) and about six colours. Edward Wesson reckoned that the fewer colours you use the more you get to know them. I imagine Ron Ranson thinks the same.
Very much so Keith. I like to use just 3 colours whenever possible.
Hi Caroline, there’s little doubt that wet into wet is a much more exciting way to paint. In saying that, I probably couldn’t paint any other way as I don’t have the patience to wait for areas of the painting to dry before continuing.
I think I may have the very same book you refer to though the title escapes me. I used to love looking at the black and white pictures and then doing my own version using just 3 colours. Why I think the black and white may work is that at the beginning it’s more important to learn about tones than colour.
I just love the work of Edward Wesson I have two of his books and his trees in a simple landscape are just wonderful. I use a 1 inch squirrel (sorry squirrels) mop brush and a number 10 sable brush and a rigger. I use about three to five colours at the most as I think tonal paintings are so atmospheric.
I use a hair dryer to dry each stage, but you are right wet into wet is an exciting method and something I really want to become confident.
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