Friday 26 June 2015

Weekend painting course in Lake District

 
 

What a super few days painting at Grasmere and Rydal. To paint in the Lake District is a wonderful experience. The Easedale valley has so many interesting and beautiful scenes. We started on Monday with an easy walk to the old stepping stones painting next to the bubbling stream. Tuesday found us on the shores of Rydal water and in the gardens of Rydal full of  colourful Rhododendrons. Wednesday was demonstration morning of watercolours and pastel with the afternoon painting in wild flower meadows. Warm still days gave perfect painting weather.

I have organised another weekend  Friday 7th to Sunday 9th August.
Saturday painting around Easedale valley and demonstrating in the studio, Sunday painting on location beside Rydal Water. The Price £220.00 includes  Bed and Breakfast at the Glenthorne, Grasmere Friday and Saturday evening this course is suitable for Beginners and Dabblers in watercolour who would like to experience painting outdoors in the beautiful Lake District.
Single and double en suite rooms available.

Please book asap and email lakelandart@hotmail.co.uk.for more details.
Voucher cards are available for presents









Friday 19 June 2015

Lanty's Tarn, Pastel Demonstration



An evening walk to a secret tarn. I had to figure out a suitable angle, the tarn was a little dried up and sad looking, but I could see it's true beauty. With a new pastel paper to try out 'Pastelmat' I roughly sketched in with charcoal and then applied loosely cool blues for the background.




I enjoy painting negative shapes instead of the positive, so took great delight finding the sky between the back foliage. The back sunlight field took it's place. Next came the old wall with hints of mauve to compliment. Silver birches with light bark broke the dark green foliage.




 A few Bluebells under the Birch trees helped to stop bring light to the greens. Background colours are applied swiftly into the lake and then softened with finger tips in downward movements. A few little ripples with the side of a light pastel stick.




Trying very hard not to get too busy. Bringing light into the front tree and reflections are again added and softened, a colour shaper helps to bring light into the softened tarn and helps to subdue some of the branches. A signature is added and I hope you like the painting, I must say that I really enjoyed working on this super paper, and will defiantly be using it again.





Lanty's Tarn
Size 8 x 8 inches
Fancy a pastel painting day in the Lakes
Just get in touch to book you day and for prices

Thursday 11 June 2015

Paint the view, Derwentwater

 
Fancy a painting day?
 
Saturday 4th July 2015 A Watercolour Day around Derwentwater.
Beginning at 10am, ready for the launch to take us to our first location.
 A quiet bay with views towards Blencathra to sketch, back on board and ending down the lake watching for the wildlife passing by. Our next stop is a classic view down towards Keswick and Glorious Skiddaw in the background.
I will be demonstrating and gentle guiding the beauty of watercolour. The day will finish back at the Theatre by the lake for a welcome cup of tea.
Suitable for Beginners, Dabblers and those who
 Just love Watercolours and the Lakes are welcome.
 
Price £45.00. Personal voucher cards given for a present
Just send me a message to book your place.
 
 


Wednesday 10 June 2015

On location with watercolours

 
I found myself a nice spot next to the riverbank, with one easel leg in the river. The water was easy to retrieve for paints, I dealt with the nettles next to me and settled down to paint. The sun shone and lit the view perfectly lit, birds sung and the Sheep wondered what I was up to. You can't beat painting on location on days like these.
No sketching, I wanted a loose and free approach. Saunders Waterford behaved well with no pre stretching, and the sun dried the paint fairly rapidly.
 

 
This was a rough sketch, one to enjoy the painting process in a beautiful place. Taking photo's along the way of your work does help, especially when you can look back and think, I quite liked this before I put a wretched tree in!
 

 
I looked up and saw I had an audience, I think they will definitely go in the next painting of this scene.
 
 
 
Number One art critic was still happy catching fish
 
So the paints came out again, a couple of Birch trees catching the evening light and pretty wild flowers leading the way.
 
 
 
 


I masked the trees and then the fun began, I do love throwing  the paint in gay abandon and letting the paint decide the outcome. I rubbed some wax on the paper to help the Cow parsley, but could have done with a little more and a few pastels or Gouache would have been handy.
 
Fancy learning about the joys of  English watercolours www.watercolourcourse.co.uk
The Online course can be completed anywhere, it doesn't need to be on the side of a river bank.
Utah, Hawaii, Auckland, Seattle  or even London!
 

Tuesday 9 June 2015

Watercolour versus Water soluble Oils

Pansey Power Watercolour
 
 Experimenting with watercolours, trying to paint looser is harder than you think.
 In fact I find it needs an open mind and full concentration. Music helps.
 Plenty of clean water, new ideas with colour mixing, tonal values allowing the paint to move and make plenty of happy accidents. Above all  keep smiling.
I usually paint watercolours on a flat board, but today I worked upright on the easel with happy runs helping the painting process and no sketching, straight in with the weak paint.



 
Emerging Pansies painted in Oils
 
I'm trying out my new Water-soluble Oils in this quick undercoat. I love the way the paint has blended and merged together softly. I want to paint a few more tweaks but and capital B for but I don't want to over work and loose the softness. Will keep you posted
 
Fancy painting watercolours and would like lots of tips on techniques, colour mixing and personal critique