"The artist...is also a born adventurer. His explorations, unlike those of a tourist, are rewarded by the discovery of beauty spots unmentioned in the guide books, and with tireless curiosity and an exceptional proneness to wonderment, he will come upon objects of remarkable interest overlooked or even shunned by more disciplined observers."

Augustus John, R.A.




Sunday 10 May 2009

Work in progress

Two projects on the go at once this week. The linocut above, of two cherry trees in blossom, is carved and ready for the first colour pass, which will be a very pale peach pink colour.

The painting below of Gordale Scar, an acrylic on gesso primed board is shown after around three hours work.



After drawing the design carefully, I painted the sky in at full strength as this sets the whole tone and atmosphere for the rest of the painting. The middle distance was then loosly washed in to delineate the areas of grass, vertical crag and scree slopes. I then painted in the middle distance greens. At this stage the cliffs and scree slopes are still only roughly indicated. The foreground is just quickly washed in, using thin paint as an indication of the colour strength and form.


2 comments:

Keith Tilley said...

is looking good so far. There is a nice sense of the narrowing of the gorge and of the towering walls on either side.

Stuart Brocklehurst said...

Thanks Keith
I'm trying to keep that sense of the gorge narrowing without making it seem too oppressive. From this viewpoint, just outside the gorge entrance the landscape is still quite open. It is only when you walk further in that you get the real sense of the gorge folding around you.