Monday 23 July 2012

A memorable watercolour weekend in the Lakes

Sunny skies and a warm breeze perfect weather for Derwent Island weekend. We took the launch across to the Island for a wonderful day of painting.

 This is just one of the amazing views from the patio, imagine having this every morning, I would never get very far! We watched rowing and sail boats most of the day go by, changing light in the  Newlands valley and walkers like matchsticks on the summit of Catbells.



Walking around the edge of the Island, foxgloves growing around every corner.


 I started with a full and frightening wet in wet over all of the paper.Cobalt blue for this distant mountains with a touch of Cadmium Red, Gamboge, For a difficult to paint 'Catbells Raw Sienna again with a small amount of Cad Red, painting wet in wet, adding pale green to show the shape of the fells. Warm Ultramarine helped to paint  the foreshore trees adding hints of yellow.I added a few reflections and a single boat to my demonstration.


To finish the day a wonderful cream tea was served in 'The Drawing Room' and enjoyed on the terrace. What a superb way to finish a painting day.


Catbells viewed from the Italian balcony


We were met on Sunday with strong winds and more Paynes grey in the sky. It was touch and go whether the Launch would run, but they decided to give it a go.Intrepid artists clambered on board and we set off down the lake with strong gusts blowing spray into everyone's face. We made it down to Brandlehow and settled at our first location for a couple of hours.


Grey skies were looming overhead, occasionally bright shafts of light would illuminate a lemon yellow field.

After a much needed 'Hot Chocolate' at Lodore and a quick watercolour sketch, we caught the launch to the last location of the day beside Ashness gate.

What a wonderful weekend with many memorable moments.

If you fancy a watercolour break in the Lake District for beginners or aspiring artists.
I have a couple of single / double en suite rooms left with no single supplement from Monday 13th to 16th August based at Dalegarth House hotel Portinscale, Keswick.
The days will be spent painting around Derwentwater and in the beautiful Borrowdale valley