Next installment of the WIP

Next installment of the WIP- re-worked the sky colours as I wasn't entirely happy before. I'll add some red/orange to the underside of the clouds next (when this layer dries a bit!)

Bass Rock (work in progress)

Bass Rock (work in progress)

This is a large painting I'm working on at the moment in the studio (1 x 1 metre). Its easily the largest I've atempted and it a subject I love to paint (as you can see from previous posts!), for these reasons I really excited about this one!

At this first stage I've decided on my composition. The horizon is placed on the traditional golden mean (dividing the canvas in roughly 2 thirds sky and 1 third sea). I've placed the rock off centre to the right hand side also. At this stage I've very loosely blocked in the rock itself using burnt umber and ultramarine blue, thinned with turps, this was done with my handy 2 inch decorator brush (felt like Rolf Harris at this point!), then my favourite 1 inch flat brush.

Next stage I blocked in the sky and sea. Again very rough at this point- not worrying about detail or anything, just want to get rid of the white canvas and try to establish the rest of the composition and tonal range.

Well this is where I'm at now. I've been working up the sky, trying to get the colours and tone right as this will define the light for the rock and the sea.

More to follow.....

Ryan

Plein air tree study, Newhailles House

Plein air tree study, Newhailles House

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 12 inches

(~1 hour)





At last the weather is changing for the better! Have a gloriously warm weekend and managed to get to do some plein air painting- first of the year!!





Thought I'd have a go at acrylics (haven't used them for a while), thinking that the quick drying time would make for easy (and mess free!) transport home. This is undoubtedly a great advantage as the painting sketch was completely dry within minutes. The downside is the drying time being so fast! I'd gotten so used to oils where you can mix colours on the canvas, scrape off etc!





It was great fun though and I might try to get some of the mediums for acrylic that can slow the drying a bit.

Ryan