A PAINTER’S PROGRESS
At least when it comes to titling the paintings, in all other areas anything is possible. Another early Spring photo and the trees are quite bare so there is a predominance of greys and purples, I think I will have a stab at this colour palette just to see what can be done. Like this design, reminds me of late Edward Burra, I would like to get some of that space in this painting.
Trees in the valley, early Spring. Day 1
This painting is much more self assured than the previous one. I feel there was a slight dip in direction on my return from Mexico, but this painting puts me right back on track. I especially like the sky, the Guston influence is evident and I’m more than happy about that. This painting should kick start the rest of this year in the UK. Painting is finished.
Springtime arrives in the valley
Is it Spring? That’s of secondary importance to me although I have been trying to push it that way. The problem I have is always being seduced by rich, saturated colour rather than the overwhelming palette of greys and muted purples. What I like about this painting compared to the previous is the difference in size between foreground trees and far ground giving a sense of space. This may seem like an obvious thing to say but it is quite apparent in this painting and has got me thinking. The sky in this painting is also more successful. I may return to the previous painting just to improve the sky.
Springtime arrives in the valley. Day 5
I knew I’d bounce back from my unenthusiastic start to painting in the UK. It’s no surprise that leaving a hot, sunny climate in Mexico and returning to a dull and cold climate in the UK would dampen my spirits. I have now adjusted to the disappointment and the painting is in full flow again. Makes me wonder how many artists would benefit from a permanent move to Mexico or the south of France. Painting is going well.
Springtime arrives in the valley. Day 4
This landscape is waking up at different times. They are trees with light green leaves, white and yellow leaves. There are rows of big trees of grey, purple and brown. And the whole scenes is bathed in cold spring light. Hopefully this painting is going to resemble Spring rather than Summer. Going well at the moment.
Springtime arrives in the valley. Day 3
I had exactly the same problem in arriving to Mexico in terms of finding the subject again and adjusting to a very different kind of landscape. Here I am back in the UK with the same problem. A lot has to do with the light and heat. A lot has to do with my poor work ethic. However, I can feel the ball moving and gathering speed. I like the start and the subject so generally the prospects look promising.
Springtime arrives in the valley. Day 2
Very much a landscape in transition, a bit like my painting. I am thinking to find a finished version of the sky that I left in the previous painting. Also, I am having some thoughts about simplifying the forms of the trees even further. Lets see.
Springtime arrives in the valley. Day 1
The final stages of many of my recent paintings are based on the feeling that this isn’t the painting I had envisaged, even if I don’t know how they are meant to look. Its a search, changing things not always knowing if it is the right thing to do. This painting is not finished yet? but its in a state that I like, especially the sky, so I am going to leave it for now and maybe return.
Heavy Spring weather
Its no wonder I never took to watercolours where you need an easy facility to achieve right first time results. This painting has finally bended to my belligerent, pig headed determination. A Trump like approach of no surrender has finally seen this painting showing some promise. Only now do I think I can make a decent painting of it, I hope this isn’t a pattern for the future. There is some pleasure in seeing my dolly mixture trees finally appearing.
Heavy Spring weather. Day 5
If you lack any natural talent then you need an ability to keep plugging away. I’ve been doing it for 40 years so my ability is unquestioned. Moving in the right direction today with a significant level of frustration. I think it is this particular painting as it is not always this way. Despite all that I am liking the way it is emerging. Reaching a point where the next move is more obvious. There is some pleasure in seeing my dolly mixture trees finally appearing.
Heavy Spring weather. Day 4
Progress is not a night and day revelation, its a long slow drag, at least as far as my painting is concerned. I get an idea and then a few months later it will materialize. How tedious, but as long as it does materialize I can’t grumble. I think that’s how progress manifests itself, its there, but you have to work slowly and diligently towards it. This painting is heading in the right direction in terms of a more chromatic palette. I will always hold onto my tonal painting, why?, maybe it the British weather, which is looking particularly heavy in this painting.
Heavy Spring weather. Day 3
Attempted to work from the black and white photo but my cold turkey from using colour photos failed. Maybe its one for the future. However, the result to a brighter use of purer colour has been realized which is what I wanted. I suspect the darker colours will lose their brilliance but its a good start.
Heavy Spring weather. Day 2
So what has changed with my approach to painting after 3 months in Mexico? Well one thought that has been on my mind for several months. What if I just worked from black and white photos and relied on my instinct for colour? I have had this fight between conventional landscape colours and how I want my paintings to look for many years now. Just looking at this drawing I can visualize a much more vibrant painting but as soon as I look at the photo it becomes a straight jacket. Just as Luke Skywalker turned off his computer when approaching the Death Star, maybe I should do the same. Otherwise I am just painting the same paintings? and I hate convention.
Heavy Spring weather. Day 1
There isn’t a lot in it between this and the five others but this one gets my vote. I think it is more unified stylistically across the whole painting. It has more impact as an image, my strong diagonal cheat certainly helped that. Also, it is the most unconventional, in my opinion, it is simply the side of a hill with three artificially realised clouds adding to the slightly surreal quality overall. Question now is will it dry in the two and a half days I have left here in 30C heat?. Debatable. Next painting, the beautiful green rolling hills of Northumberland but not until end of March. Adios for now. Update: back in the UK, with the painting, dry and perfectly preserved.
Hillside, Mexico
The longer you stare at something the more you see, and the longer you work the more appears. Of course you can overwork something and it all goes pear shaped. This painting may seem finished but I can see a little bit more in it that will improve it. The witching hour for good photos seems to be when the sun has dipped below the horizon and there is still light in the sky rather than total darkness outside.
Hillside, Mexico. Day 6
Which means a lot of the wild landscape consists of muted browns and greens. I wanted to capture that feel in this painting but not at the expense of creating something drab and uninteresting. I think I have got the balance right although I want to inject some vibrant bursts of colour here and there. Taken quite a bit to pin this painting down but its going in the direction I want it to.
Hillside, Mexico. Day 5
I always like to be ahead of schedule it gives me a sense of order and control. I had toyed with the idea of another painting but that just ties me to our apartment for the few remaining days here, too selfish, even for me. Liking the energy of this painting, it had started off in a bit of a vague fashion but the longer I work on it the more certain I have become. Maybe two more sessions and it will be finished.
Hillside, Mexico. Day 4
I took for the previous stage of this painting. It was during the day time and in Mexico, I know I have to wait until night time here to take half decent photos but I was a bit impatient. Today is much more representative and some decent progress was made. Clock is ticking but barring any unforeseen issues I am on track to finish. The slight regret is that if it turns out well I will have to leave the painting in Mexico to dry.
Hillside, Mexico. Day 3
Six good paintings from six attempts, that’s not a bad strike rate. Its funny but you only need to get so far into a painting before you know if its going to work or not. I thought the edge of the hill and the sky was going to be the hardest to get right. Often its that hard edge between horizon and sky that can look awkward. Six paintings this year against thirteen last year, however I think half of last years were not successful so as always quality not quantity is the thing that matters.
Hillside, Mexico. Day 2
I took some photos last year in Mexico of some hills that I thought I could make some paintings of. I had a hunch it would work but I wasn’t sure how to go about it. Twelve months later its a little bit clearer so with nothing to lose its time to roll the dice. Chose this composition because I thought if I can’t get the impact with body of the painting I could get a cheat impact with a strong diagonal.
Hillside, Mexico. Day 1