CHUTE, PART 3

Apart from a slight touch up here and there, the rocks are complete! As with the area on the right side, I worked from top to bottom using a slightly darker (and cooler) mix as I went down. Getting the right balance was tough though as there is still the tumbling water to do. This is sure to influence the painting in one way or another but I'm confident this will show me which direction to take the final painting so am holding off doing anything else until the water is finished. Initially this image attracted me with it's abstract feel - the lighter area of the falling water surrounded by the darks of the rocks, so I kept this concept in my mind as I worked - now after getting this far, I simply like the painting for what it is.

CHUTE, PART 2

Here more rocks have been added on the right side and I have started working on the water. That part is a bit rough at the moment as I just wanted to get it in! I used less Yellow Ochre in the rocks as I moved down to the bottom of the canvas so they appear ever so slightly cooler in color temperature and also a bit darker. So far I was happy that I was getting some depth in the work. I must say that I really enjoyed painting all the different shapes and tones etc - sometimes I think that I could be happy just painting rocks and skies!

CHUTE, PART 1

The start of a new painting - first on a small canvas I drew in the details with a HB pencil. Usually I use a fine brush and thinned raw umber but used graphite this time for convenience. Once I was happy with the shape of the rocks etc, I started in the top left working right on top of the graphite without sealing it first. Not a problem in this case as the rocks were to be relatively dark so the graphite was absorbed into the paint. I used a few basic colours and tried to keep the painting relatively loose working quickly and laying in the paint wet into wet. Darker areas were Raw Umber straight out of the tube. Next more rocks!!

MARSH EVENING

A little further along the Christina river just South of Wilmington, Delaware one comes to the Russel W. Peterson Wildlife Refuge where we spent quite a lot of time wandering around each day. A wonderful place to visit full of breeding birds, deer, Eastern Cottontails and groundhogs! The occasional Bald Eagle too and I had great views of an adult Peregrine Falcon soaring in the heat and humidity. Some watercolor studies followed and helped capture the mood of the place while also serving as the basis for future paintings (below).

This is a view looking East from the bridge over the train tracks. It was early morning and the sun had just come up - the colours reflecting beautifully in the river and a slight haze in the distance.

This view is looking South across the marsh with early clouds building.

These sketchbook studies are about 5" x 8" and 9" x 8" respectively. Although quick studies, they do help me tremendously as they often serve to tie down images and ideas that I carry around in my head - usually after seeing something new as was in this case. Another reason for keeping these sketchbook studies simplified is that I don't want to get down too much at the time as I prefer my finished paintings to develop from my own response to the scene instead of copying it exactly as it is.
From these watercolor studies and others I was able to complete the vertical marsh scene shown at the top. I'm still trying to get a better photo of this one as I have found dark paintings extremely difficult to capture digitally. Anyway I'm sure that more landscapes will come out of this trip, in the meantime I'm working on something different which I'll show next time. Marsh Evening is in oils, size 10" x 8" (26cm x 20cm).

EARLY EVENING CLOUDS

During a trip to Wilmington, Delaware recently, a walk took us along the Christina River where I saw this scene. The sun was setting off to the right illuminating the sky full of wonderful cloud shapes that were back-lit hanging over a simple landscape of grasses and trees. I painted this small work pretty much just as I saw it and is a first in a series of studies from Delaware.
Early Evening Clouds, 8" x 10" (20cm x 28cm), oil on canvas.

GYRFALCON STUDIES

I did this drawing a while ago but still remember how wonderful it was sitting in front of this magnificent falcon. I enjoy drawing but for me it has always been a means to an end. That is, I realize how important accurate drawing is, but seldom feel satisfied with a black and white image. I almost always have to continue on and get to the painting stage - and that is where my struggles usually start. Still it is what I do so I have no complaints there, And I'm very thankful that even now after all this time I get the chance to draw and paint every day, Gyrfalcon Studies, graphite on Arches paper, 22" x 15". Sold.

SPOTTED REDSHANK

In Hong Kong I mostly see Spotted Redshanks in their winter plumage - as with this bird. Higher tides in Deep Bay brings waders right up the the boardwalk hide so one can easily study them at closer quarters than usual. It was one of these birds that I first drew in my sketchbook last year - this became the idea for this study. A small watercolor painting was started (in my sketchbook) then I began work on this painting laying in a series of background washes. I painted in the bird as usual building up tones and finishing off with the reflection. Size is 11" x 7,5". Watercolor on Arches paper.