Time to paint

Bradford fields, late Autumn.

Bradford fields, late Autumn.

Time to paint?  Maybe one day soon.  The painting above is not brand new but is a scene from this time of year, based on a stretch of the river Avon near Bradford-on-Avon.
Meantime, I thought I’d better try to blog something, as it’s been a while.  
Having finally turned ‘full-time’ artist/tutor in September I’ve had to devote a lot of time to what I call ‘The PIG’ (potentially income generating) activities.  At least I hope that’s what they are.  The harsh reality of life is this has to come first.  I hope once I get a few things more established I’ll find time to actually get back to working properly on my own painting.

Autumn and winter time I try to take on more demo and workshop bookings with art groups, and my weekly class keeps me occupied too, as I always like to introduce new content, rather than repeating the previous term entirely.  Here’s an exercise we worked on this week, combining wet-in-wet, light to dark, cool to warm, hard and soft edges and negative painting.  I hope I’m not giving the class too much of a headache.  

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Beginner’s class exercise, quarter imperial size.


There’s also another new art magazine out sometime very soon, called ‘Paint and Draw’, which I’ve written a couple of articles for the first two issues of.  For the first issue my step by step painting (of Aldeburgh beach) can be seen here on the front cover, which was a surprise:
https://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/design/paint-and-draw-magazine-subscription/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwnKzABRDy2pb7nPSazdsBEiQAI4lZQBSaNSTT-S7OlA85ZxsL6oeY2U2Vmp3T_6f6ugotoFAaAlzO8P8HAQ

I’m very lucky to be working with Leisure Painter on a seasonal basis this year, with an Autumn painting project half way through at the moment (finished in the coming issue) and I’m now working on a winter scene for publication in January.  There will be snow.

An exciting thing for me is that I’ve been developing a new palette.  This is designed to my own specifications from scratch, and here’s a photo of the first prototype in use.

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‘The Unlimited Plein air and Studio Watercolour palette’ – prototype

I call it the ‘Unlimited plein air and studio palette’.  Having tried out many types of palette over the years, including one or two of the lovely hand made brass ones (tried out, not owned),  the best option for me which I’ve ended up using til now is a cheap, widely available model (albeit modified a bit with hacksaw and gaffer tape).  This was okay, but certainly didn’t tick every box for me.  When it is finalised, my new one will do.  Primarily the palette is just for my own enjoyment and ease of use.  However, it just might also be available to buy – not sure about that yet.  Every detail has been highly considered, and it does definitely fill some important gaps in the current market.  In size it is similar to the steel Holbein 1000 (the largest Holbein) and has a few things in common with the plastic Liz Deakin palette, but there are major departures from both.  It places mixing space top of the priorities list, rather than having an unnecessary number of paint compartments. The paint compartments incidentally are perfection, and as for the special ‘partial-divider and drag-over ridge’, well I certainly find it very beneficial to fast and effective mixing.  Patent pending, by the way.

I made a new video, which I know I’ve mentioned, but it is now on youtube (pre-prototype palette) here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZnRRaMy1a0

Also I should mention here the three things which I need to get booked up at the moment (details on my News and Tuition pages), these being my indoor day workshop in April, plein air workshop (weather permitting) at Windrush House in May, and my painting holiday in July.  I have several people now booked onto the holiday but there are only a couple of places left on each of the two day workshops.  I’m really looking forward to these and would be delighted if you’d like to join me.  Please contact me directly for the indoor workshop, and the Windrush Gallery for the other one, contact details here:
http://www.jamesfletcherwatson.com/contact.asp

Happy (as they say) painting.

Comments On This Post

Harry 3 years ago. Reply

Would you consider a Roberson style box like the one Steve Hall uses but with just 12 pans with thumb whole if you had the money?

    Jem Bowden 3 years ago. Reply

    I’ve tried out one of these – off a friend – but really I find it isn’t ideal for how I work.
    I prefer larger mixing areas, and don’t really like the dipped, oval wells. And they’re so heavy! Not great in the rucksack or in the hand after a couple of hours.

Eric 6 years ago. Reply

When will the palette be available?

    Jem Bowden 6 years ago. Reply

    Hello Eric,
    Thanks for your enquiry. The palette will not be produced for sale after all.
    I decided against it when it became apparent that certain compromises would need to be made.
    Sorry for any disappointment caused. All the best, Jem

Eric Snibson 7 years ago. Reply

Jem. I have followed your UTube videos with much interest. Your proposed Palette looks excellent and I would be interested in purchasing one if they reach the market. I like the idea of a limited number of colours and I will be interested to know the names of the colours pictured on your palette.
Eric Snibson (Australia)

    Jem Bowden 7 years ago. Reply

    Hi Eric,
    My usual colours now are W&N Professional range: French Ultra, Winsor Blue red shade, Light Red, Indian Red, Raw Umber and Burnt Umber. I occasionally use a brighter yellow, such as Cadmium or Aureolin. I’m not sure about what I’ll do with the palette still. I don’t really want to become known for products, rather as a painter, so we’ll see.

Mike Porter 7 years ago. Reply

Hi Jem,
I read your writings on the new palette with interest. If you decide to market it, I’m sure you’ve already thought of partnering with SAA or Ken Bromley. In the US the company I’d recommend is Cheap Joe’s based in North Carolina. I’ve shopped with them for years now and even visited the place. First class people really. I’ve met the management there and would try to give you an introduction.

If you were to publish a piece on how to modify a Liz Deakin or other palette per your ideas, I’d give it a go and try it out and them provide feedback for you. I say this so you know you have my support. I am currently using the Barry Herninan box that folds out. I like it OK. Like you I have not seen it reasonable to spring for the dear price the brass boxes demand. I am unable to access the video link mentioned above.

    Jem Bowden 7 years ago. Reply

    Hi Mike.
    Early days re. the possibility of marketing the palette, but thanks for your thoughts.
    The Liz Deakin palette is too small to modify for me, but some things about it are better than most of the fold out plastic models.
    The one I’ve used til now (you’ll see it in my video) was modified simply by joining two of the mixing areas into one larger one.
    My design is a bit larger overall than the Holbein 1000, and has much more mixing space because of fewer paint compartments. It is also a lot lighter, being plastic. None of those brass ones would work for me as well as this one.

Patricia Brander 7 years ago. Reply

Thanks for your update. I’m sorry the PIGs are getting in the way of painting. I have the same problem; two deadlines December 1st and after that I hope to clear the decks to be able to focus on what I would rather be doing – painting, and hopefully joining your distance learning course.
Thanks for the new video, I’ve commented on it another place. Just to say here again that one of the things I liked was glimpsing you mixing your paints and the views of your palette. Now some of the mystery has been explained! I have tried various types of palette and my favorite is one that has basically similar features to yours, but I can see the advantages of yours over mine, which has many more little squares for paints – I don’t need so many and mine seems rather flimsier. Would it be cheeky to ask that in the next film you show as bit more about how you use your palette? I hope you go ahead and market it and in which case, I pre-order one now?

    Jem Bowden 7 years ago. Reply

    Thanks Patricia.
    I saw and replied to your comment on youtube, thank you.
    The next video I do for there will feature my own palette. I’m not sure I’ll discuss it at length yet, but perhaps a bit more.
    Not sure yet about marketing it either, but will update on my blog if that happens. Thanks for your interest in the meantime.

Stephen 7 years ago. Reply

I found the demo very interesting and informative Jem, trust your new ventures are successful.

    Jem Bowden 7 years ago. Reply

    Thank you Stephen.

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