Old work revisted

Two years ago I started a work in oil for The Virtual Paintout challenge and didn't finish it because I just couldn't get the colours right. I then tried to do it in gouache and watercolour and it still didn't work out but I found this half-done work a few weeks ago and was determined to 'fix' it. I didn't!! However, I then became determined to 'finish' it to some level of competence. I couldn't match the glowing oranges and rusts of the original photograph as those colours just didn't exist in my collection of gouache tubes and the detail was too fine in the original photograph to transpose to this small format, especially in that long line of small houses on the left. I also should have used a finer grain of watercolour paper to make detail work easier. The only thing I am really happy with is the tree, and even that needs some fine-tuning but I can't do any more without muddying the whole work. I now have lots of work on the go for a year-end project which might be a bit too ambitious for me taking into account the little spare time I have for painting on the weekends. We carry on.

"Lane in San Miguel de Allende"

Gouache, Watercolour and Coloured Pencil on Watercolour Paper 6" x 6"

February Flowers - Quick Sketch

Today, after enduring about five months of low dark skies and no natural light, I was determined to make good use of the sudden appearance of sunshine in my part of the world, to the extent that I turned my back on domestic chores and pulled out the art materials and quickly got painting and sketching. I haven't painted for weeks now and this is due in part to not having any decent light and being very busy at work. No excuse, but a very solid, irritating reason. I didn't even want to think about anything; I just wanted to splash some colour around so I chose a painting of Fantin Latour's as inspiration and went from there. I am partly shocked, (but not surprised), if that makes sense, how difficult it was for me to get the effects I wanted. I really have to work a plan to give myself more time in front of the easel.

"February Flowers - Mini Homage to Fantin Latour"

Watercolour, Gouache, Pencil on Watercolour Paper - 6.5" x 5.25"