The dark side
Biddestone village green.
The first here is a painting from the afternoon, in the very picturesque Wiltshire village of Biddestone. My second visit here, and I love the place for its old buildings in interesting arrangements. The scene here is of one half of the village green, and as you can see from the photo, it does have the ability to be a bit ‘chocolate-boxy’, though that’s not something that really bothers me.
The morning’s effort is the other photo. The painting got rather too dark, owing to one final, slightly tetchy wash over the whole of the right section of buildings. To be brief, the light was poor almost the whole time, and I waited for ages just for a burst of sun to come out to provide shadows. It sort of did for a moment, but I still ended up guessing a bit where to put them. And because of them not being there for the majority of the painting it ended up being a bit of a painting ‘in two minds’. Though I had started off intending to add proper shade if the sun came out (as the weather man had forecast), and worked in a way with this in mind, it is difficult to make this work… hence rather dark and muddy, as Bockingford paper will rightly punish more than one glaze for.
In the afternoon the light again came and went, but I fancied doing something with the sky – as it was quite powerful, momentarily. So, in case it went really wrong (as is quite possible) and I wanted to start again immediately I didn’t draw out the composition, buildings, etc, except in the most basic terms. The rest of the painting was therefore ‘drawn with the brush’ to quite an extent, which is good practise at least. I’m not usually bothered about getting an accurate likeness of individual buildings etc anyway, rather to get a general impression of a place, and use what is there towards making a reasonable painting.
Biddestone farm buildings.
Love the Biddestone painting, having contrast with the very dark makes it more interesting to me
Thank you, Tricia. I also like strong contrast. Pleased you think it is a good piece. For me it had more potential, and when you see the original it looks a bit muddy, because the darks were achieved through a few washes (inc. a couple of over-glazes) when I’d normally achieve the correct tone in the first, or certainly a second wash.
LIKE LIQUID, ONE CAN DRINK, this last picture, the second, swims with motion! Meg
Thanks again Meg. In fact I prefer that one, despite its faults. More my kind of a composition. Just could do it a lot better than this I think! Hopefully next time.
Very nice both paintings Jem. I love the sky , light and atmosphere of “Biddestone farm buildings’
Thank you kindly, Theophanis! I’m glad that painting has something. I plan to do it again one day though, as I know I can make a better painting of it – it was a great subject, and just over to the right the view into the background (through the gate) also revealed another great composition. Interesting buildings, with parts all at different angles etc. Luckily the farmer was a nice chap, and I wasn’t in his way.
nice work-i always like to see the photo subject-it teaches me what you think is important and what to leave out-thanks.
Thanks George. I know what you mean. I also think that a different person can decide on a whole different set of things to include and exclude, with equally successful/unsuccessful(!) results. I just mean there are always so many different interpretations possible…. I’d probably pick out some different things next time myself, not necessarily deliberately. It’s a funny old game, isn’t it?
A very interesting posting once again Jem, I like your honesty in revealing your slight failure to capture things as you would ideally like too. We amateurs usually only see professionals finished more polished work. Encourages me to keep trying to improve.
Pleased to hear you are encouraged, Stephen. I think watercolour is a very ‘honest’ medium, since you can’t hide the truth of what you do with it. This is one reason I like it – its ‘transparency’ in more ways than one. People tell me I shouldn’t be so honest in some ways on my blog, but I’m not going to change. I think it’s true that honesty generally doesn’t provide the fast route to success, and in life it has often not helped me, but it is the only way for me. I want to de-mystify watercolour when possible too, and that’s what my tuition is all about. It is a shame that the magazines always have such a low word (and image) count requirement for their articles, as it is never enough to get across what is necessary in a way that one can hope to be fully understood. One day I hope to write a book, and not one that fits a typical publisher template, so I’ll probably have to fund it myself… so perhaps just before I die, if I’m lucky!
The are song,” la orrilla blanca,la orilla negra”,this watercolour i remember! The song is beautifull as your word…
Thank you Maria!