Spring lanes near Llandeilo I enjoy the effect that subtle colour changes can have in the paintings of others, and tend towards using tonal contrasts more than colour contrasts in my own work. For these two paintings though, I was definitely attracted by the brightness and warmth of a Spring morning light, which can sometimes make me more enthused about pure colour. Particularly in the top painting I consciously used more saturated, bold hues. The distant trees here are almost pure blue and purple. Also, the large tree to the left, being one of the most important shapes in the paintings contains several colour changes, which attempt to convey aspects of the light effect, and the local colour of the trees surfaces - but also just to create interest. This tree also combined different techniques - using different brushes, for the same reason. In the second painting I was wanting to take on the issue of a lovely blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Its something I might often avoid for fear of creating something quite trite, but of course this neednt be the effect, and I can only hope it isnt! Other than the important full-leaved tree to the right I tried to pick out a couple more individually at points in the picture where I thought it helped the composition. In reality they were all visually merged together, and the woodland stretched across the road and up behind the main tree on the right. With a bit of licence I took this area of wood out, so the tree would stand out, set against only the sky. A couple of solitary hawthorns remain on the horizon - hopefully providing a bit of scale and distance. Both paintings use the most obvious form of arrow to lead the eye into the composition, in the form of the track/road. Where the road leads inevitably becomes a focal point. Care has therefore to be taken over the placement of this point in the overall composition, with everything else playing a supporting, or balancing role. Birds can sometimes play such a role, as well as adding truthfully to the sense of place. In the more open scene I decided to add a few, the highest, closest one for balance, and the more distant ones to draw the eye from the central tree and towards the far distance. Rooks were much in evidence at the time of my visit, so its only right they play a part. TIP: adding birds to a painting shouldnt be done lightly; try out various placements in the composition by sticking on small bits of blue tack before committing them in paint. Proceed with caution - add them only if they provide something useful and definitely dont detract from the painting as a whole.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 07:41:31 +0000
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