Virtual Reality

Hello everyone ... anyone still out there?

I've recently been playing with a pen-based computer and I've been trying out a few free and paid-for painting and sketching apps.

This simple sketch was done using a Samsung Galaxy Book ... a Windows 10 based tablet PC that I like to call my 'poor mans Surface Book'  :-)). I used a lovely no-frills drawing app called Colorist which has a few basic tools: pen, eraser, colour dropper and a really nice coloured pencil plus an easy to use palette.

It's a little bit strange drawing on a glass screen to begin with but eventually, apart from the lack of tactile feedback,  it starts to feel like you're using real coloured pencils on real textured paper rather than virtual ones!

Michael

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

The wild wood

This one is inspired by recent trips I have made to the local river, in between the showers, sometimes to sketch, sometimes just to sit and look. I prefer to paint from memory rather than from a reference photograph. Everywhere is so lush and green after the rain, although the meadow grass has started to turn yellow and buff in colour. The gloomy rain-filled skies offer little light but are sometimes lightly tinged with beautiful mauves and pinks. I left out much of the foreground and the near and middle distance trees to concentrate on the distant treeline to try to create a feeling of dense woodland filled with light. I used a minimal palette of Maimeri pan paints on a smooth pressed watercolour paper. Happy painting to you all!

'The wild wood', watercolour on Derwent watercolour paper A4