Lakeland oil demonstration

A Wednesday morning Demonstration in Keswick.

We started with a toned  yellow canvas, sat on the easel.

Portrait was decided.

Colours were kept to mainly primary

Ultramarine Blue, Crimson Alizaron, Winsor Yellow and white.

Some of my fellow artists were new to Oil paints, 

so a limited palette is much easier when beginning.

I applied a very small amount of Liquid Clear.

I don't always use this medium, but for the approach in this demo it would be ideal.

Ultramarine and Crimzon  was applied loosely into the sky.

Soft Yellow and White blended together to form atmospheric clouds in the sky.

These were all softened together with a large brush.

The class enjoyed this section and quoted 'it was quite a workout' on a cold Winter morning.

With a base of a sky painted giving a tonal range, mountains 

in the distant Borrowdale valley were then  applied.

Reflections and similar shades used in the sky were painted into the lake, 

softening with a large flat brush.

A few ripples are added in the foreground 

at the end of this very enjoyable Demonstration.

Fancy learning English watercolours with my online course with personal feedback and helpful hints on all projects. 

https://janeward.co.uk/watercolourcourse/

Painting from reference photographs

Ullswater Mooring

I think this would make a great reference photo for a watercolour painting.

These shouldn't be copied to every pixel, but used as an idea, or for scale.

The horizon of the lake could be moved lower to give more drama in the sky.

More detail could then be added to the boat.

I would ignore the canoeists, not that I dislike canoeists, I would want to create a sense of space and tell a story about the single boat.

The mountains could be painted with more atmosphere and misty conditions with wet in wet and plenty of water. The trees on the shore could give a strong tonal value against the light tones of the lake. This would add more drama to the painting.

I would also imagine a few more reflections under the gorgeous Red sailing boat.

The float could be masked out with masking fluid?

The lake could shimmer with a little wax added.

I would keep to a limited palette of around four to five primary colours Cadmium Red been a definite contender.

So all it needs now is paint to paper.

If you fancy joining my Online watercolour course with personal feedback

Here is a link for more information

Online watercolour courses

Here are the paintings for the Online watercolour courses

Each course has six projects which comes with a sketch to guide and simplify a scene, colout tags to help with colour mixing, a material list and with each project personal feedback with  helpful hints and tips on how to improve your watercolour painting.

Course One

Project one 

Derwentwater  Posts 

 Learn how to paint mist and create atmosphere.

Project Two

Blea Tarn

Easy sponging techniques for trees.

Project Three

Windermere Sunset

A limited palette to create a stunning sunset.

Project Four 

After the Snow

A dramatic sky and winter trees.

Project Five

Red Boat Windermere

Boats, mist and Ripples.

Project Six

On the Rocks

 Masking, Texture in rocks and how to paint realistic waves.

Each project comes with individual feedback and many tips on improving your work.

Online Course One £70

Course Two 

Watercolour Course

Project One

Ullswater Daffodils

Creating distance and foreground painting.

Project Two

Tarn Hows

A winter scene with a limited cool palette.

Project Three

Above Windermere

Subtle cool washes to create distance with warmer tonal values.

Project Four

Buttermere

Refelctions of a classic Mountain scene, scree and shadows all explained.

Project Five 

Derwent Isle

A collection of Autumn colours and simplified trees.

Project Six

Bluebell Wood

Creating a woodland scene with magical Bluebells.

Online Course Two £70..00

Course Three

Project One

Alpine Mist

An Alpine peak with atmospheric conditions.

Project Two

Turquoise waters, Annecy.

Masking fluid and tape and beautiful colours to mix with.

Project Three

French Doorway

Terracotta Pots, shadows and wonderful Geraniums

Project Four

Mont Blanc.

Creating a dramatic mountain scene, with a limited palette.

Project Five

Daisies and Buttercups in a Jam Jar

A still life with easy steps on painting glass and tonal Flowers.

Project Six

An Italian Village

From colourful buildings and reflections in  warm Italian waters, this final project has it all.

The Online Watercolour Three

Price £70.00 for Six projects, includes mixing tags, sketches and easy step by step and personal feedback with each individual project.

Step by step Bluebell wood oil painting

 Stage One

I thought I would share the Oil painting I'm working on at the moment. You won't be able to recognise a Bluebell wood from the 1st stage! Weak transparent primary colours were added and left to dry.

 

Stage Two

I have a bit of a addiction to masking tape, it all started when I watched a programme about Matisse. He often would tear strips of masking tape to help negative shapes appear in paintings. I also wanted to keep the transparent colours in the tree trunks while I happily applied the foliage behind.

 

 

Stage Three.

A mass of Bluebells are starting to grow! We still have a species of Rainbow trees often seen in the Borrowdale Valley. I'm using the gorgeous range of Williamsburg Oils that are a total joy to mix with.

 

Stage four

I'm stuck!! I'm at the point where I need to find my way and pull the painting together, probably with more light, detail in the foreground, but not overworking. We must remember that it is a painting and not a photograph!

I do find standing back helps, even looking at the painting on a pc screen!

 

 

I've just received a lovely email from an Online student

 

 I have just completed the snow painting which I really enjoyed.. I am absolutely delighted at your critiques and it has helped me to grow in confidence. Many thanks

I got the idea of the critiques, after reading John Ruskin's 'The elements of drawing' with interesting notes and explanations to help students through the process of drawing and painting. He started with students drawing a box and then shading it, this was done for a few weeks!
The online watercolour course does have a little more interest than a box and many watercolour techniques and colour mixing ideas are put into practise over the six project course. The feedback is  positive, and sometimes getting an idea on how to change or improve a painting can be really useful, especially when you get stuck!!

If you would like to sign up for the Online watercolour course

just send me an emaillakelandart@hotmail.co.uk for more details or

 you can see more information at www.watercolourcourse.co.uk

 

I'll keep you posted on the Bluebells

Snow scene Demonstration in Watercolour

 

Robinson from the path to Latrigg

Watercolour

 

I thoroughly enjoyed painting this beautiful scene to a class of very inspired artists.

 

Colours used in the recipe are Cerulean, Cobalt and Ultramarine  Blues, Permanent Rose, Burnt Sienna, Naples Yellow and Cadmium Red and Yellow.

 

Arches not 140lbs paper stretched

 

Other techniques used Candle wax, Masking fluid and  palette knife painting.

 

Fancy joining my online watercolour course

www.watecolourcourse.co.uk

For more details

Gable from Wastwater

 

Gable from Wastwater.

 

Painted in Watercolours

 

I watched 'Scafell A year of a mountain' and felt I had to paint the next day, Wastwater.

 It was a great film, and worth catching. Watching it on a damp wild damp made me certainly look forward to Spring and getting out on the fells. I have just five Wainwrights left to conquer, One been Yewbarrow the mighty ridge in the painting and another Scafell!

 

Painted on Arches 140lbs with a mixture of warm colours and a few hairy moments painting the sky!

The joy of watercolours and watching paint move into places while it dies.

 

I've had some super paintings back this week from my online course, it is a good time of the year to get into painting. If you fancy joining and gaining a few new tips and lots of personal feedback

www.watercolourcourse.co.uk

 

 

 To purchase 'Gable from Wastwater' email me at lakelandart@hotmail.co.uk

or follow the link below.

Ten tips to paint a Bluebell Wood in Watercolours

How to paint a Bluebell Wood in Watercolours

Top ten tips

1. Use Not or Rough watercolour paper, ideal with a little more texture.

2.Test colour mixing before on a scrap piece of paper.

3.  Create many different Tonal values with different amounts of water.

4. Cobalt Blue and Ultramarine Blue mixed with Permanent Rose give a great Bluebell color.

5. Have a few good photographs and even a sketch to work from.

6. Try gently rubbing a little candle wax over the paper to create sparkle.

7.Paint some complementary colours in the scene, this will make the scene sing!

8. Take a walk through a wood and note the colours and shapes of trees.

9. Add a little Gouache for lighter Bluebells. 

And Number ten let the scene evolve naturally with the watercolours.

www.watercolourcourse.co.uk for more details

Online watercolour course with six projects

How to paint snow

'After the snow'

An easy painting?

Using a limited palette of four colours or five if you would like to include white. 

But there is no white paint used, for those who don't paint, what you try and do is not paint the white paper.

Sounds easy! But artists do have this terrible urge to cover every scrap of paper with paint.

 I was replying to an online student today who was having problems painting clouds and suggested 'painting a sky in just four minutes with no dabbling!
'After the snow' sky should take only this, having the colours ready mixed and confidence in the water ratio will make all the difference.

It gives me a real thrill to get comments and wonderful paintings back from online students and I'm always amazed at how  students who have barely any watercolour experience create stunning paintings. It inspires me to get the paints out

This Winter scene is one of the projects in my Online Watercolour course

There are six projects in each course with personal feedback on each painting

Price £70 For more details 

Painting on the slopes

Ponies in the mist below Criou

I thought I'd just share a few favourite photo's from this week in Samoens. The snow has fallen at last and even more is due. We've hit the slopes, I'm practising the Bull fighter approach. You may wonder what the devil this is, well I have a problem facing my shoulders down the slopes, and need to imagine something positive, so this week it's been the Bullfighter!! Number one art critic has his work cut out trying to teach me to ski with some Panache! The problem is I'm often gazing at the scenery whizzing by thinking 'ah that would make a great painting', or 'what colour is that!

Swirling mist after a snowfall.

Taking the cable car through the snow laden trees.

Instructors in Red

An afternoon storm whipping up 

A little en plein sketching, obviously you need an helmet on to protect you from pens and paper!

I'm half way through a watercolour of a wintery scene, 

I'll share it with you over the next couple of days.

Fancy an online watercolour course with personal feedback

www.watercolourcourse.co.uk

Alpine Hideaway in the French Alps

Alpine Hideaway

Painted in Watercolours

I had lots of fun with this little watercolour.Watching the snow come down and then seeing the sun come out. I quickly got the paper and paints out before the snow would melt and disapear.

I was unsure about how to paint so much White! snow, so I started with the old barn, I masked out a few branches and roofs with tape and fluid and then went for it with strong shades of Blues and Pinks. I dropped in plenty of water and also salt crystals and then hoped for some action to develop.

When all was dry the salt and masking was removed and I then painted some dark tones around the barn and popped in the tree with a rigger and the trusty palette knife.

www.watercolourcourse.co.uk

An online watercolour course for  beginners and Intermediates

The most beautiful river in the Lakes

 A few days back in the Lakes and what better place to visit, than beautiful Borrowdale valley. Walking from Grange towards Rosthwaite is pure joy especially with the last of the Autumn colours and a touch of morning frost. This little part of the Lakes is such a wonderful walk, along the riverside, with fells sparkling in the morning sunshine. The river which is called 'the Upper Derwent'  the most beautiful river, the colour of the clear water ranges from emerald to bright Greens to Ochres.

I see watercolours and pastels all  brought to life. But we were wandering up the river in search of Salmon, scrambling along quietly gazing into the crystal waters.No fishing rods or paints just enjoying the sheer beauty of this special place and nature.

I am going to paint this wonderful scene in watercolours, with just a limited colour palette I'll keep you updated on how it goes.
If you would like to learn to paint in watercolours but unsure where to begin or what brushes and colours to use, the Online course is a perfect start www.watercolourcourse.co.uk  With lots of feedback and easy step by step I will show you all the techniques and secrets I have learnt over the years.

Can you see the Salmon? Not in this photo but the colours in the water are so pretty. 

www.watercolourcourse.co.uk

Painting ideas

Dusk, Derwentwater 

painted in Watercolours

Sold

I sit here at my desk with a blank canvas ready for some colourful action, do you have the same problem, what to paint? The weather over Christmas was a little dire and grey, perfect for lounging on the sofa and watching sloppy films while eating chocolates.! Not all the time, I really enjoyed working slowly on ' Dusk' as you know  my favourite view of Derwentwater.
But now a new year has dawned and so we need inspiration, more colour and of course direction. I find I do need to be inspired I wish sometimes a magic wand could be waved and wooosh a painting idea pops in to my head.


But really it doesn't take very long, I find a walk out is all it needs at times.

If you fancy a little direction and learning some new watercolour techniques, why not join my correspondence course at £75.00 for six step by step projects and personal feedback with each project

Analogous colours

So back to 'The church in Newlands' I really enjoyed the challenge of painting this and looking at 

Analogous colours,  these are colours that lie next to one another on the colour wheel. 

I made myself a quick colour wheel using 3 primaries and then mixed each one approx 12 times with a little of the colour primary next to it. I then cut a shape out which showed the gap of 12 shades and one of the complementary.

I enjoy looking at the design and colour mixing and know there is so much more to understand, but do think it helps to give confidence to all kinds of painting.

I'm quite happy with my painting of the Church, but know there is loads wrong, it was a subject that I've not tackled for a long time, but I'm now looking forward to having another go. I also fancy having a go in pastels or even oils

I managed a quick painting en plein yesterday, with the weather milder it was a perfect introduction to 2012 outdoor painting sessions. It was a lovely section of river near Grange,  but best of all can you see the buds on the trees. I really felt inspired by the David Hockney programme this week and all it made me want to do is 'get out and paint'

If you fancy joining my online watercolour course, it's six projects each different with step by step instructions and personal feedback and lots of ideas and techniques and a few secrets along the way

www.watercolourcourse.co.uk