Often temperamental and
always unpredictable. Many who know me might use that sentence to describe
me; however, I am actually referring to watercolour
painting! I have always loved drawing. As a young child I would sit mesmerised as my Father drew me sketches and I guess that’s where it comes from! My Granddad retired when I was at the age of thirteen or so and as a hobby he started painting in oils. Click here.His love of it inspired me to have a go. Around this time Rolf Harris was using that huge brush to produce stunning works of art on the Television and that further inspired me to paint - not with a huge brush though!
I sold my first painting at the age of seventeen. Believing it not very ‘cool’ I put the brush down as girls became an issue! Sadly, my Father died a few years back and as a way of coping I picked up the brush again… after almost thirty years! As it seemed clean, quick and easy to set up I had often fancied trying watercolour painting. I soon discovered watercolour is an extremely
difficult medium to use.To say that using
watercolours is a challenge is an understatement! It is
so demanding and unforgiving, you get one chance to get it right! But that’s what I love
about it, its dynamic and you are in many ways governed by it, to a large
extent I just lend a helping hand as a painting evolves!
I feel privileged to live in one of the few remaining unspoiled parts of the County of Essex, England. We live at the mouth of an estuary within a landscape that has managed to hang onto its rural roots... all be it by its fingernails now. It has inspired many of my paintings, particularly when out walking the dog!
I usually paint to celebrate this beautiful world of
ours - but as I’m often deeply
affected by an event or situation, one or two of my paintings do have deeper
connotations.
When laying washes I use tube paint and when ‘building-up’ I use a pan-tray. I also use tube paint to replenish the pans - I’m aware that goes against ‘the purist’ watercolour-painter but I have had no problems with it! I use an old egg-cup for mixing washes and the lid of the tray for mixing the pans. Perhaps of equal importance as the paint is of course the water that’s used to dilute and mix it. That does not mean I use a top quality bottled water, though I'm surprised it hasn't been suggested by a supplier out there! What I mean is, I do like to change the water regularly - after all without clean water whatever colour paint you're using will not be true!
Occasionally I will use the opaqueness of gouache for adding highlights, extra detail or deeper colour. I have half-a-dozen or so tubes but the one that gets the most use is Permanent White! As they have the consistency, opacity and permanence of oil paint, I also like to work with Acrylics - but the quick-drying does take a bit of getting used to!
