After reaching some kind of satisfactory conclusion to my mum’s birthday present dilemma, I felt a tremendous sense of unburdened freedom as I sought out my next subject. So it was without any surprise that I found myself pouring over my favourite Edward Seago book for inspiration. It was however a complete surprise (and, in retrospect, in complete delusion!) that I landed upon his view of ‘The Stone Quay, Ponza’.
After a brief period of respite, I turned towards another one of my muses, Edward Wesson. I was particularly attracted by the simplicity of the scene and the drama in the sky. I was bemoaning some time ago how my skies had moved towards rather pallid washed out affairs and that I’d lost a little confidence in rendering a much more bold approach. This sky was completed very quickly, with a lot of wet into wet passages (a few too many in some ways because there was a little too much bleeding from one wash to another). I felt that the foreground water had a certain tranquility about it, and I liked the intensity of the trees to the right of the church, but I didn’t feel as convinced by the sky as I’d hoped.
As this didn’t take long to do, and as I’d enjoyed tackling it so much, it seemed crazy not to have another go. This time I was keen to simplify the sky but maintain its drama, to shorten the foreground water, and to avoid the distant hills bleeding into the sky.
I was largely pleased with this effort – it took more washes and glazes to reach this conclusion than I’d intended, but I think there’s a directness and boldness about this study that I find quite appealing.
Ultimately, I’ve really enjoyed my painting this week and, while few of these will make it onto my gallery page – most likely just this second view of Blythborough church – I feel that I’ve learnt a tremendous amount that I hope I’ll be able to develop further in the weeks ahead. I’m feeling particularly excited about tackling some more of these ‘big skies’!
Pleased to see and hear that you enjoyed your painting experiences this week. They certainly are a pleasure to gaze at.
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Thanks so much Susan – I’ll never rule out ever working to commission but I think I’d only ever be able to take something on that I’d have fun working on!
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Good for you. Glad to hear you’re enjoying yourself and are feeling less constrained! I like your second sky in particular 🙂 xx
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Thanks Bec – hopefully there’re plenty more big skies where that one came from!
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