Saturday 9 November 2013

Self Pruning Growth Mindset.

I started this painting last week, during half term. Given that our school has been inspected this week, that seems like a long time ago. I'm looking forward to reading what the inspectors made of us, but until then I'll have to make do with not bringing any work home this weekend, reading books, running, entertaining tomorrow, and of course, painting. It's a hard life.
This is obviously another woodland scene, and I believe that they are scots pine. Self pruning. Apparently that's what some trees do when there is competition for space - drop branches and put all their energy into growing tall. Information courtesy of Matt Simms, who also taught me how to work out how much of a tree is useable as timber by measuring with a stick, in a similar way to measuring proportions with a pencil (Cheers Matt. It was great to see you Gill and the kids last week.). I'm not sure how many more I will paint of these at the moment. I've probably got one or two left in the tank. Sara has suggested that it would be good to do a whole series of them to fill a room...David Hockney style. It would be nice to be able to paint like him. If only!!
I struggled with this one for a while, but stuck with it. I took a little of my own advice to the pupils - try to imagine what it will look like when it is all painted - a little growth mindset if you will.









Friday 1 November 2013

Back Into The Woods.

This is the second painting of a possible series that I intend to do of woodland. This is Long Wood again at Little Ouseburn on the former Thorpe Green estate. I like these tall trees, and I like the ephemeral, speckled light as the sun sinks low, but.... what I really want to do is suggest something a little more fae. It's not that I want to paint a fantasy picture, but there is something about woodland, where you're never quite sure.. I probably need to look at more deciduous woods, so I'm thinking about heading back to Greno Woods in Sheffield, which will mean I can pop-in and see my parents. I'll probably use the opportunity to stock-up on wood for the log burner as well. 
I suspect that it will be more difficult to paint deciduous trees to get the kind of atmosphere that I want without being twee, but I think that that is where I may go next.
I also want to paint something that is about seasons changing, hopefully without being too obvious.
And I want to paint a panorama, on a large canvas, with a few buildings in - perhaps Sheffield from a distance. 
That's the problem, I keep wanting to paint different things.
Anyway, here the latest piece, in stages, as I painted it over the last few days:

 Everything blocked in with a neutral colour - a mix of burnt sienna and pthalo blue.
 Lifting out the lighter areas..kind of drawing in reverse.
 Drawing in a few details.
 Starting to build in a little more colour.
 ...adding lighter areas and more colour...

 ..more colour, more detail...
 It's starting to come together now.
It's almost there. I could call it finished at this stage, but I want to let it dry off so that I can lighten the sky a bit.