Watercolour Gallery - 3
I was at Bala Lake in North Wales on a very frosty, foggy January day. The sun was bright and trying to penetrate the fog. As the fog began to lift I saw a lone boat moored to a buoy. The photographs I took were very atmospheric and this painting is an attempt to capture that in watercolours.
Boat on Bala Lake
I painted this version of an old abandoned Lime Kiln in watercolour in order to compare it with the same subject painted in acrylics. I had found the acrylic version more difficult than I had expected and assumed that was because I was new to the medium. It wasn't. I found this simple-looking subject harder than anticipated.
I've also drawn it in pen.
I've also drawn it in pen.
Old Lime Kiln
When in Torbay last year we visited Babbacombe. The bay is accessed by a wonderful journey down the cliff face on the Victorian Cliff Railway. Once in the bay you have the most wonderful view of the Red Sandstone cliffs which have been designated as a site of scientific interest.
Red Cliffs, Babbacombe
I have long been an admirer of James Fletcher-Watson and recently managed to obtain one of his books. I was interested to read about his preferred choice of palette and decided to try his colours for myself. This painting is the result. Not in his league, obviously, but I'm not disappointed with the result.
Barn in a Field
It was late one autumn afternoon and we were driving through the Lake District. The light was beginning to fade as I rounded a corner to see the most spectacular of views. Most of the landscape was in near silhouette and the sun was hidden behind a cloud, but with powerful beams of light shining down on Buttermere Lake. The water was still, there was no breeze, there was no sound.
Also see the pencil version
Also see the pencil version
Sunset over the Lake District
The River Wharfe meanders across Yorkshire in a leisurely fashion, until it reaches 'The Strid'. This is a narrow (2 metres wide) but very deep gorge, through which the river races under tremendous pressure. This is a dangerous and notorious stretch of water.
The Strid
I took my family away for a special weekend and as a part of it we found ourselves visiting Sherwood Forest. This is my daughter and son-in-law enjoying a quiet stroll through the forest.
Forest Walk
While strolling around the marina at Torquay last year I saw this small rowing boat tied up amongst all the much larger motor boats. The paraphernalia inside is clearly that of a keen fisherman.
Fishing Boat
My main interest in doing this painting was to try and capture the searing heat and bright intensity of the molten metal. I can't imagine what it would be like working in conditions like those. Give me my desk job any day.
Steel Worker
Though only a 'miniature' variety of Rose, this one growing in my garden has all the beauty of the more usual normal sized varieties. This is how I like a Rose to be, at that half-open stage.
Miniature Rose
I saw this fine catamaran beached in Barmouth Bay and the skipper seemed to be giving her a bit of a look over. Barmouth Viking II is licensed for fishing trips around Cardigan Bay and can carry 12 anglers and their gear comfortably.
Barmouth Viking II
Lower Slaughter is a beautiful small village in the heart of the English Cotswolds. This watercolour was painted from a photograph taken by a good friend of mine, Ken Gemell, during his visit to the UK in 2007.
I've also drawn this in Pen
I've also drawn this in Pen
Water Mill, Lower Slaughter
I visited this delightful small town during the summer of 2008 and was totally captivated by its fine Yorkshire Stone buildings and quaint timeless atmosphere.
High Street, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire
Driving through the Pass of Llanberris in the shadow of Snowdon in Wales, I came across this delightful scene. The clear, crisp mountain water was rippling around the rocks and the lone tree seemed quite content with its location and surroundings.
Tree by Stream - Snowdonia
I've found many explanations, theories, speculations and folkstories with regards to how this church in Chesterfield ended up with a crooked spire. The favourite seems to be the use of unseasonned timbers coupled with the use of hundreds of lead tiles. Whatever the explanation, it certainly makes a spectacular site.
Crooked Spire - Chesterfield
I discovered this door in the remains of a wall at the Castle in Knaresborough. Though the castle is nothing but ruins, they are so well looked after and have such magnificent views of the Nidd Valley, that they are well worth a visit. The cliff top setting has been made into a park and is a wonderful place to sit and pass the time of day.
Castle Door
Driving through Snowdonia in the vicinity of Arenig Fach, I spotted this very small stone bridge. There was no obvious place to pull over on the narrow road so I made a mental note of the spot and returned another day to get a photograph. It was well worth the effort. This bridge stands no more than 5 feet high and is probably only 8 feet in length. The stream is only about 5 feet wide at that point.
You may also like to see my pen drawing of this subject.
You may also like to see my pen drawing of this subject.
Stone Bridge
Well, not fully a barn. I came across this very small building when on holiday in Wales recently. The wooden pallete leaning against the front of the structure gives some idea of scale. Was it a pig sty or some sort of animal pen? I have no idea, but it was very picturesque.
I've also produced a pen drawing of this subject.
I've also produced a pen drawing of this subject.
Welsh Barn
This watercolour is from a photograph of a small part of 'Rainbow Row' in Charleston, South Carolina.
The photo was provided as the subject for one of the forums Painting Projects and after doing this watercolour version, I thought it would be fun to try it in Pen & Wash.
The photo was provided as the subject for one of the forums Painting Projects and after doing this watercolour version, I thought it would be fun to try it in Pen & Wash.
Rainbow Row
I call this a barn but I'm far from sure it is. Still, 'barn' is easier to say than 'old stone building'. This was taken from a photograph and although it is a fairly unexciting landscape, there is something about it that greatly appealed to me from a painting point of view. So much so that I felt drawn (excuse the pun) to draw it again in both pencil and pen and wash. For me, the pen-and-wash version is the one I like the best even though I have made the trees a bit too rounded and artificial looking.
Barn in Field
