Jane's Art Blog : Autumn Glow over Borrowdale Valley

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Autumn Glow over Borrowdale Valley

A couple of weeks ago I walked up Walla Crag a small fell above Derwentwater. Snow on the higher hills in Borrowdale valley warmly lit by the late afternoon sunshine giving it a wonderful Alpine glow. Conifers and Larch trees resplendent in Sparkling Autumn shades. Simple things like these totally inspire me to put paint to paper. I felt that this would be a great subject to demonstrate to my watercolour workshop, and I thought you might like to see how I tackled it.

So here is my recipe for Borrowdale Alpine Glow, served with a selection of Conifer,

Larch and a little Cumbrian fell.

140lbs Saunders Waterford paper Stretched

Ultramarine, Permanent Rose, Burnt Sienna and a little Gamboge

A handful of riggers ranging from size 12, 8 and 4

To help pull it all together a well used palette knife

And finally a spray of water to help the paints to separate.

Stage One

A weak wash of Burnt Sienna was applied to the sky and back fells.When this was dry Ultramarine and Permanent Rose was used for the distant fells, using a dry brush for scree effects.

Burnt Sienna and Permanent Rose was applied loosely in the foreground.

Stage Two

Stronger hues of Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine were applied to paint 'Grange Fell' also Burnt Sienna and Gamboge was used to paint the 1st stage of the Conifer and Larch trees, these were sprayed with water to create softening effects.

Stage Three

More detail and stronger hues of Burnt Sienna and Permanent Rose was used in the Larch trees with the aid of number 8 and 4 rigger brushes. A path emerged helped as a 'lead in' to the background, helping to give the painting more depth. A palette knife was used to apply paint to the larch trees and also to scrap off and to reveal light on the tree bark.