Lessons from the Great Masters Day 11 – 17.7.15
Today’s chapter: John Constable: ‘natural’ sky paintings
How often have I marvelled at his great painting The Hay Wain on many trips to the National Gallery in London as a young boy. The scene was painted near Flatford Mill in Suffolk, which was owned by his father. I recently visited this hallowed spot which has changed little over the last two hundred years. All that were missing were the magnificent clouds of his painting.
Lessons from the Great Masters Day 10, – 16.7.15
Today’s chapter is entitled, Thomas Girtin: the power of white.
Thomas Girtin was a contemporary of Turner who said of him, “If Tom Girtin had lived, I should have starved.”
This painting of Venice from 2008 was inspired by Turner’s Venetian watercolours and seemed appropriate to post after my last three exercises from the chapter in Lesson’s from the Great Master’s entititled Joseph Mallord William Turner: colour harmony.
Lessons from the Great Masters Day 9, part 3 – 14.7.15
The small double-sided white ceramic dishes I bought for $1.50 each last week from our local kitchen store are perfect for mixing and diluting the watercolour paints.
Lessons from the Great Masters Day 9, part 2 – 13.7.15
Lessons from the Great Masters Day 9, part 1 – 12.7.15
I have been looking forward to this chapter, entitled Joseph Mallord William Turner: colour harmony, ever since I received the book in the mail.
Turner is perhaps the greatest master of watercolour painting the world has known. His work has inspired me ever since I first saw his paintings in the Tate Gallery in London as a young boy. His mastery of light, colour, landscape, sky, mystery and atmosphere are second to none. He was a man ahead of his time; the first of the impressionists.
These exercises are a revelation and make this a wonderful journey to be on; more tomorrow.
Roy G.Biv still works here. I think it’s time he tidied up a little don’t you?
Sand Dunes and Morro Rock 10.7.15
This watercolour exercise was inspired by ms.diplomacy’s photo entitled Morro Rock View, which she posted on July 8th. I loved its minimalism, complementary colors, shapes and spaces. Many thanks ms.d 🙂
Lessons from the Great Masters Day 8, part 2 – 9.7.15
Lessons from the Great Masters Day 8, part 1 – 8.7.15
Today’s lesson was entitled Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot: balance of light and dark elements. The image started simply with a light wash followed by dark solid shapes leaving sky-holes within the foliage and painting a single tree-trunk within the reserved white of the sky. Highlights were created scraping the paint away with a sharp knife. Look for the color exercise tomorrow.
thechangingpalette 