This is a place I discovered last year and have already returned to on a few occasions in different seasons. It is the remains of the Somersetshire coal canal, and is on a little-used footpath about a two mile walk from my nearest bus stop. A good example of the great places one can stumble upon if you get out there and explore not far from home. Ive spent hours here seeing just one or two dog walkers at a distance - so take heed would-be plein air painters and get out there! Included here are 2 photos taken from slightly different vantage points; one in September and the other from quite early on a winter morning. Feeling inspired normally has a very beneficial effect on how a painting turns out. However, in this case Ive attempted to paint at this scene 3 times and am yet to get an on site painting to come off. I find its also important for a successful outcome to paint with belief that it is going well. Tell yourself it is even if youre not convinced, or you wont be committed enough and a poor outcome is then almost guaranteed. Or thats my experience. This painting was worked by amending from photographs and was done in the studio. And this was about the fourth attempt at that! Still not happy Ive quite got it, but problems in earlier attempts included: The slight tonal difference between the duckweed and the clear water surface not sensitively enough handled. Distance too dark in relation to foreground - didnt capture the light-through-slight-mist effect successfully, or depth of the scene. Clumsy handling of texture variation in describing the died-back reeds/grasses. I discovered that this scene was more difficult to paint than Id expected it to be! My advice when feeling defeated - even though inspired is - leave it a good while so you forget your disappointment; youre bound to come back to the subject in future, when youll perhaps be more experienced and able to deal with it. You need to paint with confidence of a good outcome from the start, and its nice having something to look forward to. Meantime, just sit and enjoy looking at your subject. Train your eyes on it. Think about why/where youre failing, and make notes. Perhaps youve not worked on a similar subject before so it is bound to stretch your skills. It is quite possible not to notice this at the time. Have you noticed that?
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:55:48 +0000
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