This is my first submission to the Calypso Moon Artist Movement. Our challenge was to paint our Secret Garden. I live in a very green area of London, alongside beautiful vistas of trees and grassland just a stone’s throw from the Thames River, but, for me, none of it could be classified as ‘secret’. My ‘Secret Gardens’ are the great parks of London, and they are truly ‘Great’. I have my own special corners in these elegant spaces where Londoners come to relax and absorb the beauty and because one can be so anonymous in these masterpieces, a sense of owning a personal spot becomes very real. My secret garden is really ‘secret’ so I am not telling where it is. It is a wonderfully serene corner and I have the feeling that it has been there for a very long time; nothing new, nothing cultivated; just a naturally occurring place of peace. Strangely the vista I have chosen to paint is interesting for its lack of flowers; it’s just a cacophony of greens, layered one on the other with alarming subtlety and complexity.
Depicting the myriad variations of green was something I found tough, but I had set myself the challenge of pulling off this monochromatic scene. Possibly the end result might have been more convincing in oils as I would be able to blend the colours with a bit more subtlety, but I decided to stick with my own personal challenge of learning about 'water colour and gouache' as a medium all over again, and I am finding some marvellous surprises along the way. This work took me six hours.
Depicting the myriad variations of green was something I found tough, but I had set myself the challenge of pulling off this monochromatic scene. Possibly the end result might have been more convincing in oils as I would be able to blend the colours with a bit more subtlety, but I decided to stick with my own personal challenge of learning about 'water colour and gouache' as a medium all over again, and I am finding some marvellous surprises along the way. This work took me six hours.
"Secret Garden, London"Water Colour & Gouache on Paper - 11.5" x 11.5" (Approx.)
21 comments:
A thrilling work of art Anne. As I recall greens are a special challenge are they not? If so, you have certainly answered the challenge splendidly. In only 6 hours? WOW! were you En Plein Aire? What a beautiful place it is, no wonder you wish to keep it secret. Well it is beautiful imo. Wish I could have a picnic there with you, cucumber sandwiches?
Thanks so much Charlotte! Yes, greens are difficult for me - I'm a blues kinda gal. No, not en plein aire - this was from a photograph taken in 2007, and it is a truly beautiful spot. You have read the painting superbly well if you are thinking of cucumber sandwiches!!!
yes, i just keep coming back to it. it's that kind of painting <3
Thanks again!! - I am delighted you are enjoying it as I thought the exercise in monochromes might make it a little less universally appealing - but then again, what do I know? ;)
This design pulled me right in, and all those lush greens! Beautiful!
I so love scenes like this, Anne. I wish I was sitting there under the trees myself. Green is my favorite color and I am always amazed at how well some artists can work with it, you included. This is just so beautiful, so restful, so perfect! Well done!!
Nancie - thanks for the compliment and for stopping by!
Thanks Sherry - yes, it's a beautiful spot and I am getting to grips with greens - slowly. Thanks again.
I think you did a fabulous job on this. It has a great deal of depth.
Wonderful work of art, excellent handling of the greens, I live in Oregon and its been raining here for several months almost every day, so we have a lot of green to look at.
Horst
Horst, thanks for stopping by and your compliment. I am relieved everyone is relating to my work on the greens - they are difficult for me. Rain for several months - phew!!!
Your painting looks so juicy. A nice example of gouache. Solid yet still so fluid. Beautiful.
Thanks so much Paula - juicy & fluid - that really makes me happy!
I can understand why you want to keep this place a secret. This has such a serene and calming effect. I like the way your tree trunk curves on the right and for some mysterious reason I see an owl spirit living inside of it. So lovely.
Thanks so much Alice!
Hi, I just wanted you to know what a great little piece of painting you have created. I know how difficult the greens are? You have handled them beautifully with temperature and degrees of transparency. I am so impressed with the receding reflections and overhanging limbs. Exceptional!
Peaceful, inviting, beautifully composed...a fine art gem.
Although red-green color challenged, your wide range of values tells me the charming story of your secret garden.
Thanks for the compliment Carrie. This one just worked somehow and the scene was very beautiful to begin with.
Thank you Bernard - a compliment indeed! Getting the values right on this one was a huge challenge.
Oh it is serene. Wonderful.
Elaine, thanks so much.
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