Watercolour, revisited

Old Harry Rocks, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England.

Watercolour on Canson NOT paper.

For the last few years, I have been almost exclusively painting in Acrylic. As mentioned elsewhere in this blog, I really enjoy the ability to layer colours, to use texture and, most importantly, to correct my mistakes. But recently, I’ve had a bit of an epiphany with watercolour. For one, it’s quick medium! Really quick…..I can get colour down over a large area really briskly. The little picture of Old Harry Rocks - based on a photo I took from water level, while bobbing around in a kayak - took only a short while to paint. I was really pleased with it. OK, so critics may point out all the things wrong with my execution and design, but I was really satified with the overall feel of the painting - the sense of light and shade, and the painterly nature of it. I’m not quite John Singer Sargent (I wish!), but I think I’ve taken a step forward in my ability to render a convincing landscape.

This second picture is of a cosmos flower, based on a royal-free image I got from Pixabay. The composition is what really makes this work, and I can’t take any credit for that - the original photographer Lolame deserves all the love for that. However, it was fun to have a go at a delicate subject in watercolour.

Cosmos.

Watercolour on Canson NOT paper.