French Fields Watercolour background and gouache foreground.

Had fun painting "french fields" in watercolour for the bright background working light to dark in a traditional watercolour manner and then painting the foreground dark to light like you would an oil painting but using gouache which is basically opaque watercolour. A few sections of this painting could be compositions in their own right.

For the background I used Gaston Balande's work "view of the village of lauzières with the house of balande" recently sold at auction in France. I printed it out, its an oil shown below and on my work in progress.

Watercolour Landscapes

An exercise to revive my watercolour techniques after painting so much in acrylic

Peonies in a Blue Vase

Acrylic 29cm x 18.5cm of Peonies in a Blue Vase. Started life as a watercolour then finished with acrylics. It is painted on heavy watercolour paper. 

Feeling Relaxed

A small 9" x 5" acrylic painted on Langton 140lb Not Watercolour paper. I watched a live SAA workshop today by Hashim Akib but he was doing a large full face lion using large brushes. I only wanted to paint a small acrylic of a sleeping lion photo so I challenged myself to be distracted by his technique so that I would change mine somewhat. I was pleased with this result especially that I began with a blue background like he showed the class. Otherwise I went my own way, using a fan brush but following him in layering in the colours using only a few relevant strokes. I think the blue background certainly helps, especially when I added touches of viridian and maroon which are enlivened by the blue. My painting looked best in the early stages and I aim to repeat on a bigger scale following Hashim's instructions more closely.

Valley In the Lakes

Painted this "Valley in the Lakes" to try out a technique of beginning an acrylic with a white thick sky into which I introduce colours while wet and blend a little. Quite successful despite the fast drying time of acrylic. Colours were Ultramarine, burnt umber, paynes grey and cadmium yellow.

Fish Market in Venice

I have joined the Society for All Artists (Saa) to challenge myself as I often lack direction but want to paint. I am going to take part in their competitions and online workshops. Here is one that I took part in today but did my own thing as they were doing watercolours and I tend to paint dark to light like an oil painter which means I tend to stray to the gouache when doing watercolours and work from dark to light. I like strong colours too! I started in a watercolour way then used watercolour pencils then gouache then finally I vanrnished.

Final work before removing the tape and below is the reference photo provided by Saa

La Jarrie Audouin .. Painting competition

July 2nd. Another painting in the streets competition in France. This time at La Jarrie Audouin. My fourth competition painting in the streets in France and another prize. A certificate, a 25 euro leclerc voucher and two books of my work to be published for free although I am not sure what the latter means. (I have won a couple of books and a sculpture before). 

Not bad for getting a soaking in the rain. Luckily my oil painting did not wash off although there was not a dry spot on it and I had to give up. I was rescued by a very kind frenchman named Daniel and given a lift to a bus shelter to dry off. The professionals had umbrellas, tables and trailers full of equipment. I am going to buy an artists chair with my winnings. Very glad to see my family turn up and take me home to dry off

Peacocks and Klimt Tree of Life

It must be my lucky month as I have won another prize. I joined the saa last month in order to give myself a few specific challenges as otherwise I procrastinate dreadfully about what to paint. I entered a collage competition and are one of the five chosen to win a small prize. Every little helps as I spend a lot on artists materials. Here is my collage and my blurb.

Peacocks and Klimt Tree of Life

Media: Acrylics, Mixed Media, Oil pastel, Watercolour
Subject: Wildlife
WxH: 38 X 52 Centimeters
My most unusual material used in this collage is Old Man's Beard or Travellers Joy (Clemati Vitalba). It is mainly hidden now amongst the flamboyant layers of cut-out leaves and shapes and glitter which compete with the finery of the peacocks. I have photos of the early layers showing the tissue foundation layer based on Klimt's tree of life with the old man's beard applied on the trunk which was painted with acrylics when dry then metallic oil pastels were dragged over the high-points. Finally sheer joy took over and the imaginative decorative layers of birds and butterflies fluttered in to hide the initial construction. Varnished to finish.

Mornac Sur Seudre Paintings in Oil and Acrylic

Back from France where I've had chance to relax, paint and think of Art. I love colour and the light over there encourages brighter colours on my palette. Here's a few completed oils and acrylics with a new one started and left over there to finish next time we visit. All were based on a recent visit to Mornac sur Seudre.