Sunday 26 August 2012

Summertime

It's been quite a while since my last post so I thought I'd make this one a double! Lots of garden/jungle clearing and other jobs to do around the house, so I've not been able to spend any time sketching . I've tried to capture the lovely summer greens and the feeling of the local riverside in these two scenes which I painted back at home. I hope you are all enjoying your summers wherever you are :) Many thanks to all my regular faithful followers and a big welcome to all my new followers too. Happy painting and sketching to you all!

Great Ouse in summer I, watercolour on Saunders Waterford 140lb Rough, 10x11", 25x28cm



Great Ouse in summer II, watercolour on Saunders Waterford 140lb Rough, 10x11", 25x28cm

47 comments:

  1. This is truly beautiful painted Michael. Good luck with your garden work and other domestic chores. Happy painting!

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    1. Thank you Renske. Happy painting to you too!

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  2. Michael, how beautifully painted. You have that 'golden mean rule' down perfectly LOL !

    BJ

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    1. Thank you BJ. No rules (golden or wooden) were used on either of these :)

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  3. Welcome back Michael. I've missed your plein air posts. Absolutely love these and I really have no idea how you keep doing this with these greens. Really wish I could watch you paint live. The blends are fabulous. Enough drooling now... lol Take care.

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    1. Thank you Laura. I'm getting there with the greens - just need to concentrate on the greys and neutrals now!

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  4. Ooh gorgeous, both of them but especially the second one! Good to see you back

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    1. Thank you Sharon. It was nice to get back to the paints :)

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  5. Both are really beautiful Micheal. The first on is my favorite, I like the reflecion and the contrasts. Have a good week. Ciao.

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    1. Thank you Tito. The first is my favourite. Have a good week too. Ciao.

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  6. Fab work, Michael. You've really caught the feeling of an English summer by a river! xx

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    1. Thank you Pat. I'm pleased that it came across in my paintings :)

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  7. Good Morning Michael.
    Lovely to see that you are back mate. Both lovely Watercolours. Both well done. My favourite is the Church one, but only just. both brilliant Atmosphere about them.
    All the best Michael.
    Vic.

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    1. Good morning Vic. I'm glad you like them both. I'll have to pop over to see your latest plein air trips with Harry!

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  8. Gorgeous greens, Michael! I love the contrast in the first one, and the softness of the second one!

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    1. Thank you Judy. I think the contrast in the first makes it my favourite too :)

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  9. Wow! Absolutely beautiful paintings! And such a feeling of depth too. I really like them both! :0)

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    1. Thank you Sandra. I wanted to get more depth in the first one but I think it still worked :)

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  10. You've nailed the greens in both of these Michael but I particularly like the darks in the first one. Great work. ;-)

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    1. Thank you John, I really appreciate that:)

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  11. Wow! and double Wow, love both of these, great color, composition and you captured the lovely shades of green. Really well done Michael.

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    1. Thank you Joan. I was concerned about the compositions so I'm really pleased you liked them :)

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  12. Lovely soft transitions and beautiful fresh greens in both landscapes! Glad to "see" you back, Michael!

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    1. Thank you Blaga! It's nice to be back :)

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  13. Happy to see you are back! :) Love both of these. But my favourite is the first one. The reflections are beautyful and I love the contrast. (I´m a sucker for contrast). I also like the stronger blue colour right above the trees. It looks GREAT! Congrats!

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    1. Thank you Catharina! I love paintings with contrast too and I struggle to get that right - sometimes it works, but more often, it doesn't. I think the key thing with watercolour is to get it right first time rather than add extra layers. I do lift colour though ... if it looks too dark :)

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  14. Hi Michael, I find that your technique is getting more and more rich from one work to another... I am enchanted by the way you have managed to render such typical nordic, misty atmospheres! Great works.

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    1. Hi Lucia. I'm really pleased that you see my technique improving :) Thank you very much for your encouraging comments!

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  15. Wow beautiful paintings :)

    http://sketchesofwords.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comment and for following my blog, Jessica!

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  16. Two very beautiful works with two different moods, love both of them. xox

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  17. Thank you Jane - I really appreciate your lovely comments!

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  18. bottom one is super michael ..lovely work

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  19. Maravilhosas as tuas aquarelas! Passei por aqui e encantei-me. Parabéns! valeriasouza-telas.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you very much for your lovely comments Valéria!

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  20. What can I say Michael that I haven't said before... when it comes to landscapes you are the Master... they are not too tight , not to loose, but just right! LOL !
    there! I've said it all .... BJ

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  21. Thank you very much, BJ! Your lovely comments are always a great encouragement to me. I've not been able to do a lot art-wise since this last post but hopefully I can get back to posting something again soon.

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  22. I especially like the first one. You have captured the English countryside well. Lovely colors.

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    1. Thank you very much for your comments, Jean, they are most appreciated.

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  23. Haven't seen you around much Michael. Hope you are OK. Happy Belated New Year to you.

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  24. Hi Laura. I'm good, thank you. Just taking a break from blogging and painting at the moment. I'm sure I'll get some time to do something and post again soon! Happy Belated New Year to you and yours - and to everyone else too of course :)

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  25. Hope all is well with you Michael! Take care!

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  26. Hi Michael,
    it's a long time since I last visited- sorry! - but you've gone ahead brilliantly! ciao

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  27. Good skill! Show the green of summer well.

    artisoo

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