I’ve used the last of the squint-eye sized boards* so now I am onto a slightly more manageable 16 x 9. This is a view slightly to the north of the previous scene.

Again I’ve prepped the surface with acrylic primer (gesso) and used willow charcoal to define the lines and stratified areas in the scene. Then I’ve picked out different areas with dilute washes of green, yellow, and a mix of burnt sienna and Naples yellow. There’s a wash of burnt sienna in the sky area too, along with the river. This will form a contrast layer under the blues, greens, and whites that come later.

The sky is taking shape now with a light wash of blue over the burnt sienna, but the other areas are in a state of re and de-construction to give them the underpinnings for the final shapes and tones. The trees will be the last features to reappear but I can see their shapes under the patches of green.

4th April.

More touches of charcoal to define the lines where they contain bright colours – a bit like stained glass – and some additional layers of colour to the river area at the bottom. The clumps of clay and grass tumbling into the river from the bank are like wedge-shaped pillars with shadows and highlights in odd places. I’m happy with the sky – that wash of burnt sienna has really softened the tendency towards kitsch of the blue/white mix.

And here we are. I’ve found an interesting use for the new collection of fan brushes in fluffing out bright areas and dark areas of grass on the bank and in the foreground. To my eye, there’s a clear ‘best bit’ and that’ from the top edge down to the upper margin of the yellow field. Demands a crop.

Crops, or moments as my tutor** describes them (probably to differentiate something passable from the largely unremarkable!) can make good prints and cards and I think I’m getting better at spotting them.

Probably won’t be able to resist a video.

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5th April, couldn’t resist a video: Puddles Like Pillows

Can’t resist a second video: Spectacular Flights of Whales

And here’s the video of the whole painting because why not?

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*I just found six more of the little blighters.

**Open College of the Arts, accredited by the University of the Creative Arts.