Exercise - Aerial perspective in rural landscape

Pencil sketch outlining contours of landscape 

Tonal painting over light pencil sketch focussing in fading of colour into the distance 

Pencil sketch outlining different aerial landscape view

Tonal painting depicting mountain range receding into the distance indicated by paler tones on the far mountain range

I found this exercise to be really worthwhile as progression on from painting the urban landscape. I found the suggestion of painting the features in the distance a paler to e really helpful in trying to suggest depth and distance, it's interesting that I do not think I would have necessarily realised this without having it spelled out! 

The weather was particularly damp when I painted these images of grizedale forest, and I think this served to emphasise the change in tone in the distance and the coolness of the colours further away. 

In my opinion keeping this exercise less intense and not worrying about accuracy gave me the freedom to explore the concept being taught. 

Exercise: Aerial perspective urban landscape - painting

Preparatory Sketch and first tonal layers

Watercolour and Soluble graphite painting A2

Well for this painting I decided to think big...as recommended and painted on an A2 scale, which is the largest painting I have completed so far. I think working on this scale really gave me the opportunity to not only include items in the foreground and the distance but also include a fairly reasonable level of detail.

I think per haps this painting does not look as "real" as my last painting however I am fairly happy with the outcome particularly in relation to the houses int he distance as I have managed to achieve a paler green for the foliage and paler rust for the house brickwork. I am also reasonably happy with the composition, in not allowing the garage roof to the right to dominate the painting.

Exercise - Aerial perspective in an urban landscape - drawings

Moving on to Aerial perspective it was immediately obvious this was quite a different exercise to the previous one. I tend to think I am not very good at painting or drawing detail on a landscape (I am happier it seems with close up still life) but overall i was really quite happy with the outcome of the urban landscape.

Watercolour Pencil and Soluble Graphite on A3

For the above painting I decided to following the learnings of the previous exercise and start with a detailed watercolour and pencil drawing on a fairly large scale to try to ensure all the depth, space and details were captured. I think I spent longer on this "sketch" than I would normally but I think the looking and looking again at the aerial landscape will stand me in good stead for translating this into a painting later on.

HB Pencil Sketch - A3

For the next sketch I decided to look further to my right to capture a slightly different scene, I think perhaps the garage roof dominates the sketch a bit too much but I think this sketch has been particularly helpful in understanding and observing the junctions between the garage, the shed roof, the fence, the greenhouse roof, the trellis and the small red shed further in the distance.

Red Calligraphy using a paintbrush on A3

I decided to try to focus on the mark making aspects of the scene with this sketch, I enjoyed the richness of the colour and the differences of tone available even with just one colour of this rich ink.

Annilinky Ink Tablets - In viridian and black on A3

Looking at this sketch now it is dry I wonder if I could have spent longer on it, the tones are indicative of a night scene but I am only seeing this on my return to it, the way the lack of "colour" has become apparent I think makes it really evocative of the way night time drains colour from a scene.

Annilinky Tablet Inks - A3

The purpose of this sketch was to explore the colours needed in the various areas without actually worrying too much about the perspective as such. I think taking note of the course material here as an important factor, specifically making the colours paler in the background to give the impression of distance.

Exercise: Distance - linear perspective drawing and painting

Further sketch using black aquamarker

Another sketch focussing more on line using a aquamarker which has been softened with a wet paintbrush

Initial Pencil sketch using soluble graphite

Mixed media sketch of urban landscape on A3

Following my hospital stay I have been feeling unwell for a week and not creative at all, but ever so concious that I really need to maintain momentum with my watercolour studies. I really didn't feel like painting today so I decided to try a couple of sketches in aquamarker first just loosely to see if I felt like doing any more work. Still being in pain I felt concentration was a major factor which is why I decided to have a bit of a play using the aquamarkers and sketching the same scene again. Fortunately the weather is being kind! Having made a start I felt I would like to work more in my watercolours so decided to have a try at at painting the scene on A3 paper. Once I started I found I really relaxed and got back into painting and concentration wasn't an issue, I spent about three hours on the above painting, and really did try to ensure I included details and shadows to follow up on my tutor feedback of my paintings having an unfinished look about them. I am fairly happy with this finished painting, particularly given how unwell I feel! Including the soluble graphite under and over the watercolours seemed to really help to create definition and shadow, I think that is a combination I will be trying in future paintings.

Part Four - Landscape Elements

IProject 1 - Linear Perspective

Exercise : Distance - preparatory drawings

I spent time carefully reading the introduction to this part of the course material particularly in light of my tutor feedback from the last assignment. Specifically I need to ensure that my paintings look finished and that I take them that step forward to proper completion. It feels like a bit of a cop out but I decided my urban landscape would be best attempted close to home as I am in hospital shortly. 

I worked on my first sketch using aquamarkers and soluble pencil. For this sketch I worked on A5 scale. My initial feeling towards this particular attempt is that perhaps the size of the page limited me, and the sketch appears as though I have hardly looked up! Although the horizon is a fence my eyeline doesn't seem to have risen above this. 

I then decided to work on A3 scale to see if this could "lift" my view of the urban scene. I spent quite some time on this drawing/sketch perhaps upwards of an hour and I am happier with the outcome of this second drawing. I started by drawing the cream house first and I think this then enabled me to see more if the trees, sky and houses further in the distance. After sketching in light lines I created more tone by working into the sketchy lines again. It was tempting to add colour to this drawing or to create more light and tone but I felt the more linear nature of this drawing would be a useful reference point for a future painting. 

I then went on to experiment with a fairly loosely painted sketch using masking fluid fairly freely across the page. The aim  of this sketch was to consider the colours I would like to include. I found that the earlier pencil sketch really had stood me in good stead for centring my image and ensuring I was able to include the various urban elements a second time and in a looser style. I have found the idea of working on an urban landscape a bit more enjoyable than the landscapes in Assignment 3, I think that although I love nature and the huge skies the buildings and Tarmac seem to have permanence which I seemed better able to capture. Perhaps it's the detail and precision or perhaps I was just in the right mood when I spent the afternoon on these three sketches. 

Sketchbook work - Wassily Kandinsky inspiration

Another sample showing the use of silk paints on silk within black gutta lines. I find the work of Kandinsky I inspiring as it appeals to my eclectic nature, the apparently random shapes and flow of line don't need any explanation. 

Project 3 Part 3 - how the landscape has changed

Just a quick photograph to show how different the location for Project 3 Part 3 looks just a a month layer, the field had grown into a meadow and us scattered with buttercups and cow parsley

Sketchbook - Spanish inspiration agave close up

Amazing  structure of the agave plant, towering majestically over everything around. Aquamarkers.

Sketchbook - Spanish inspiration agave

The agave flowers are simply amazing, the way they reach for the sky is breathtaking. We thought they were trees but they are the flower of the agave bush.  This sketch has been completed using Letraset aquamarkers. 

Sketchbook - Spanish inspiration

I have spent last week in Spain where there is a wealth of inspiration. I have completed some quick sketches to document some of the amazing form and colour. This first sketch is a morning glory  flower blooming at the side of the path, truly beautiful, but faded by the end of the day. 

Sketchbook work - Wassily Kandinsky inspiration

Water colour on hot wax outline painted directly onto plain calico. Annilinky inks used to paint the fabric. Finally the fabric was ironed under kitchen towel to remove wax. 

Sketchbook work - magnolia flower

Another painting using a background of torn and glued paper, photocopied, outline drawn in wax then painted in watercolours. 

Sketchbook work - clematis

Here I have experimented with watercolours on a torn printed background that I have the photocopied drawn an outline in hot wax and then painted in watercolour. 

Sketchbook work - radishes

 

I have recently bought some Letraset aqua markers so decided to experiment using them for drawing/painting radishes freshly pulled from my garden, I really like the way they work when painted with a wet brush. I think these will be useful for taking out and about for general sketching (not outdoor watercolour exercises)