February 2007: Developing a Theme for your painting - November 2007 "Let's Explore Landscape"

Graham Scandrett DEMO/WORKSHOPS, Friday 23 & 30 November 2007
"Let's Explore Landscape"

Briefing Note and Report

WEEK 1. (23.11.07) - Introduction, with demonstration by Graham.

Members were asked to bring the following: Any Landscape photograph (NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S PAINTING) Scrap paper Soft pencil or charcoal Rubber(s) Any colouring agents (i.e. pencils, pastels, watercolour, acrylic etc.) Graham wanted us to get away from our normal "comfort zones". The sequence we were asked to go through was: Decide what scale to work at Decide what format to use (square, round, landscape, portrait, thin, fat . . ) Choose a medium to work in Move things around to make the composition of your painting better than that of the photograph Choose a colour scheme. Sunny yellows? Cold winter blues? Hot reds? Monochrome? Complimentaries? Do the design. Realistic? Abstract? Get on with it Webmaster's photo 14 x 10 cm, and sketches 25 x 10 cm, pastel pencil on pale brown paper, are alongside, as at 9:30, Week 1.

WEEK 2. (30.11.07)

Members continued with, or built upon, the previous week's work, aided by Graham as required. For what it's worth, I tried two more-polished(?) watercolour versions this week. I was at the stage alongside by 9:30. Graham's advice for finishing the blue-sky one was not to outline the shapes in black but to use a dark blue, mixed from the existing sky and some viridian green. This should emphasise even more the contrast between the (complementary) colours of the sky and trees. We shall see (I'm not sure if it's too late to enlarge the blue building on the right - one might have to go to gouache or acrylic?). Can anyone else send me picture(s) from this short course? See Submitting Pictures for the Gallery etc.

Graham Scandrett DEMO/WORKSHOPS, Friday 9th/16th/23rd February 2007
"Developing a Theme for your Painting"

GENERAL
Members were advised that maximum benefit would be obtained by attending all three sessions. We brought our own subject material (any subject, any medium) and decided on a theme for our painting (e.g. Intense light and cast shadows). If using photographs, black and white copies of the chosen subject were advised.

WEEK 1. (9.2.07)
Introduction, with demonstration by Graham. Initial ideas and basic composition. Analysis of cast shadows. We each produced a charcoal painting on paper.

WEEK 2. (16.2.07)
Colour analysis. Avoiding mud in dark areas. Production of a colour painting from the previous week's charcoal one (avoiding reference to the original photo as much as possible).

WEEK 3. (23.2.07)
Painting your picture to completion. Demonstration by Graham with different sizes of mounts for future paintings. Analysis of work and group discussion. It was remarkable how successful the charcoal paintings were, and how much of the tightness and colour distortions seen in some "normal" paintings from photographs were not present in the second week's colour paintings. Try it!

Webmaster's charcoal

Webmaster's watercolour

February 2007: Developing a Theme for your painting - November 2007 "Let's Explore Landscape"

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