Saturday 9 July 2011

... In England's green and pleasant land

I thought I really ought to devote some artistic time to my first love again, so I made some room on the table last night, took out a block of Arches and set to work. The results were just too awful to post! I'm undecided whether it's going under the tap or in the bin!  So I was feeling a little sad that watercolour was definitely not my medium anymore. Perhaps I was just tired.

However, I decided to give it another go this morning and so, working from a recent photograph (naughty, naughty), I painted this scene of the local flood meadows by the river here in Hartford. I hope this goes some way to satisfying my fellow watercolourists - you all know who you are LOL ;) Have a fantastic relaxing, but hopefully artistically fulfilling weekend everyone. :o)


Flood meadows, Hartford, watercolour on Arches CP, 7" x 10"

19 comments:

  1. Morning Michael.
    Lovely painting Michael. I would have liked to see the painting that you said was too awful to post, just to have compared it with my awful paintings. All the best Michael.
    Vic.

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  2. Thank you for your kind comment, Vic! LOL - I think that too. When someone says something is TOO awful to post, I wonder if it really is as awful as what I would consider to be awful in my own work. I bet your awfuls aren't awful either :)

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  3. Fabulous! You had your eye in on this one :) Its fresh, light filled and lively - all that watercolour should be.

    If the first is that bad, run it under the tap - as long as you didn't use staining colours, you should be able to retrieve the paper at least :) xx

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  4. Thank you very much Pat. Too much Winsor Green on the awful one to get back to clean paper I think so I'll probably rinse it off and rework it because the composition was quite nice even if I do say so myself :)

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  5. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Great watercolour, so pleasing those greens! And this little hint of purple! You've made my weekend! :-)

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  6. Thank you thrice too Judy. You've made my weekend too with your lovely kind comments :)

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  7. Very nice colour combination, lovely. I want to see what do you mean by awful in your work. It could be my beautiful one. Have a nice weekend:)

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  8. Michael, you see? you've not lost your touch, that sort of thing happens to me all the time.
    Especially when you've been working with oils lately, so now that your back let's see more. You can do both . but I think watercolor is your forte'
    BJ

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  9. Cora - thank you for your kind comments. I'm sure your beautiful is my beautiful too, but my awful is bad and my dog can probably paint better with his big paws LOL :)

    BJ - Hi and thank you very much. I so wanted to do a watercolour but I wouldn't have posted until I was happy with the piece. I'm delighted that you think watercolour is my forte because it is what I love the most :)

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  10. Watercolur isn't my medium - well, I say that but actually I have done some nice watercolours - I think I am just always unsucessfull with them when it comes to landscapes, which are definitely not my thing - unlike you who is clearly a natural at both!

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  11. Hi Sandra and thank you for your lovely comment :o) I think you've done some lovely watercolours too. I'm still waiting for that gorgeous pencil drawing you did in Spain to make a second, dare I say more colourful, appearance: oil, watercolour, acrylic - I don't mind ;)

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  12. Michael, can't imagine you do an awful painting. That being said, this piece is lovely. Great tonal value and looseness is so wonderful. As for using a photo, have to admit I have been naughty also.

    Happy Painting to You,
    Joan

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  13. Thank you very much, Joan. I do have lots of muddy failures and some that just look plain damn awful. Nothing wrong with photos. We can and should use whatever references we have and besides, I know you're as keen about plein aire working as I am :0)

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  14. Obviously, it was just an off day because this is lovely. Fabulous contrasts.

    Thanks for your kind comments on my latest drawings.

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  15. Sue, hi there and thank you! I think you're probably right about it just being an off day. You should get loads of comments, your latest pen drawings are an absolute joy :)

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  16. Hi Maria and thank you very much :) I hope your latest exhibition in L'Aquila went well :)

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  17. Love your colours and the way they blend. Very nice painting! :)

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  18. Thank you Ingrid. I think I'm finally getting those greens a little more interesting :)

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No silly verification words here - all comments are appreciated! Thank you :)