Down by the river
March 25th by The Avon near Keynsham
Hooray, the sun was out on Good Friday, and so we got out to make the most of it.
I was passed by many likeminded people, especially dog walkers on this stretch of the river Avon just west of Keynsham lock.
This was my first plein air venture of the year. I had in mind a scene that I’d photographed last year, but when I arrived the scene had changed too much; an important tree which I wanted leaning through the foreground had vanished, possibly fallen into the river, and the composition was no longer there.
There are only a few spots on this stretch where the bank and water is not obscured by continuous trees, and I was left with having to paint a view with sun behind me.
Initial drawing of composition
For most of the time there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, so I invented a couple for the painting. It was warm, and with full sun on the board and palette, this is always a difficult situation for painting. Everything dries so quickly – the paint blobs in the palette, the paint on the paper.
It is easy for a watercolour under these conditions to end up scratchy looking. It is also very tricky to assess the tone and colour of washes, against the whiteness of the paper and palette, which in the sun becomes almost blindingly bright, whilst one’s own body casts strong moving shadows over it all too. Basically, working towards the light is generally easier!
Towards the end, a few clouds appearing now.
Some people use a large umbrella for shade, don’t they? I don’t know how it could be fixed without blowing away though, in this country at least. Plus it would be another thing to carry.
So many people passed by that I actually knew 3 of them, hence the photo with me in it.
It is so great that the plein air season has begun – let’s hope it is a long one.
This painting may feature, step by step, in an article I’m writing for a new painting magazine being published this summer – fresh competition for one or two of the other mags!
Online tuition news
I’m proud to say that I am now the tutor for the Watercolour Diploma course at London Art College, which is an online/distance learning college. An overview of the course can be found here:
http://www.londonartcollege.co.uk/art-courses/watercolour-diploma/
Note, the course is aimed primarily at beginners or intermediate level with the watercolour medium. To anyone who fits that description, and would like to develop their skills, I can heartily recommend the course, as I wrote it!
E-tuition:
Unfortunately, I have had to stop offering my ‘e-tuition’ for the time being. Perhaps in future I will be able to re-start it, but recently I was finding it difficult to fit in. I need to allow myself some time to do my own painting or I’ll never get the hang of it.
Beautiful spring painting, Jem. The reflections are especially well done. Love that patch of deep blue in the foreground. I know you will be glad to know I am doing much better. I can walk without a cane now and we are hoping in another year or so my knee will be better without any surgery but still a bit too soon to tell. My biggest problem is still having pain on standing and walking but I am quite lucky that Trans Dermal Nerve Stimulation works well for me and blocks much of the pain so I can at least go birdwatching a few times a week and I have been lap swimming almost daily since June which does not hurt and does wonders for my spirits. I have been working on getting my plein air gear as light as possible so I can at least walk a little distance from my car. I still have to sit to paint but I have a good sketching chair with a back on it and a strap that I can sling over my shoulder which is light enough to carry. Yesterday I got a good lightweight tripod so I think I have things ready to go. One of my favorite places to paint is a 20 min walk from the parking lot so I will be very happy if I can manage that. I love getting your watercolors in my email as they are so instructive in themselves. I have also been experimenting with gouache lately and enjoying it but it is no “easier” than transparent watercolor which of course is not easy at all. But if it was easy it would be boring, right? Hope you have a wonderful springtime of painting this year. Best Wishes – Pat Wafer, Madison Wi
Hi Pat,
Glad to hear you are making progress. And getting some lightweight gear together.
I’ve still not found a better solution for me than the Reeves ‘Sheffield’ easel, which fits into my rucksack, poking out the top, and is just as light as anything else give or take a gram. It also only costs about £30.
What do you use for a board? I use corrugated plastic board, which can be obtained easily here at least from most plastic manufacturers with a sales counter. It weighs next to nothing.
Best wishes,
Jem