'Watercolour Basics & Beyond' Part One

The January issue of Leisure Painter is out now and includes part one of my year-long series 'Watercolour Basics & Beyond'. The series will cover different techniques over the year but the first part covers the basic materials you need and the first technique - flat wash.

Demonstration at Exmouth

I was at Exmouth last night, to do a demonstration for Exmouth Art Group. I painted this one on a half imperial sheet of Saunders Waterford 200lb NOT, which I had stretched onto a board the previous day.
Thanks to Paul Gosling for the photo of me with the finished painting.

'Loosening Up Your Watercolour'

'Loosening Up Your Watercolour' was the theme of this demonstration painting for Kingskerswell Art Group yesterday. I decided to paint another view of the boats at Charlestown, Cornwall. Although quite a busy scene, especially in the background, I simplified as much as I could and put most of the emphasis on the boats themselves. I used my mop brushes to paint fluid, loose washes. The boat hulls and their reflections were painted wet-into-wet in one go.

'Boats and Reflections'

I was in Essex last week, to do a demonstration for Galleywood Art Club. They wanted me to paint 'Boats and Reflections' so I did this painting of a scene at Charlestown, in Cornwall. (painted on 22x15in Bockingford NOT, stretched on a board)

'Take Three Washes'

Part two of my article on using my three-wash technique, for watercolour, is in the latest issue of Leisure Painter. Last months article was concerned with working in monotone but in the latest edition we add colour too.
'Take three washes' is in the September issue. Available now, as they say.

On our final day at Port Talbot, we visited the Maritime Quarter at Royal Victoria Dock, Swansea. A good place to visit on a showery day. My demo painting, shown here, is unfinished as we had to grab paints/easels/chairs and find cover when the rain moved in.
However, we took cover underneath some plane trees and continued. We were spotted by Gigi Gao, proprietor of the Shang Restaurant and Club who was kind enough to make us some tea (she even got her staff to bring us tables and chairs!). It was a lovely thought and a good end to our painting trip (photos: Sue Collingridge and Stephen Stocks).

Also from my Port Talbot course, a sunnier day at the Mumbles.

From my recent trip to Margam FSC, Port Talbot. I set up my easel and painted this demonstration of the ruins. I had to shield the painting a couple of times, to save it from the odd shower (photo by Eva Rybicki).

Patchings Festival 2017

Above: Winter Sun, Berry Head

Just got back from an overnight stay in Nottingham, from a visit to the 2017 Patchings Festival. I had a painting accepted for 'The Artist' category of the art competition.
Our first visit to Patchings. It was good to go around the stands as a tourist, 'off duty'. Still, I did get to finally meet Ingrid Lyon, the editor of Leisure Painter. I've been writing articles for LP since 2002, so it was good to say hello.
I also got to meet David Curtis, an artist whose work I've admired for many years (also bought a signed copy of his latest book).

Limited Palette Demonstration

I was at Derriford Art Club, Plymouth, yesterday for a demo/workshop. Here's my demonstration painting of the ruins at Margam Abbey, Port Talbot. Painted on a half imperial sheet of 200lb Saunders Waterford (NOT surface), which was stretched on a board.
My aim was to show what a range of mixes you can get using a limited palette. I used 5 for this one: Cobalt blue, Alizarin crimson, Raw sienna, Burnt sienna & Aureolin.

Paperback edition out in September...

My new watercolour book will be available in paperback from the 1st September, from Search Press:

'The Travelling Sketchbook in North Cornwall'

Got back on Saturday evening, from 4 days on a sketching & walking holiday in Cornwall, with Alpha Painting Holidays. We were based at the Treglos Hotel in Constantine Bay. We had some pretty good weather. A bit windy at times, especially along the headlands but the class really got into it and did some great sketches in their books, which were supplied by Matt from Alpha. I've posted my demo sketches here.

The photo of me with the class was taken by Andrew Flagg, the proprietor of the Simonsbath House Hotel on Exmoor. Andrew will be leading the walks next year, when I do a similar sketching & walking holiday, with Alpha, on Exmoor in June 2018.

'Paignton Harbour'

I painted this as a demonstration for Whitchurch Art Group last Friday afternoon. They wanted a loose style watercolour painting of a harbour scene. This is Paignton harbour, showing the junior sailing club members.

West Moors demonstration

Here's a recent demonstration I did for West Moors Art Society. I was asked to do 'animals' so I chose this feline model.

'Take Three Colours'

I have an article in the April issue of Leisure Painter, which is out now. I was asked to write about my three favourite colours, which turned out to be a bit of a toughie. 
What are my three favourite colours? Only one way to find out.