Monthly Archives: February 2016

Riverbank Trees

Posted on by
Riverbank Trees

Riverbank Trees

A mild winter and early spring.

I used a pointed round bristle to paint the foliage in the trees. Recently I’ve been using a single bristle, a No. 10 filbert, to do the majority of the painting. Although the filbert shape is very versatile (strokes shapes from round to flat) and can represent the shapes of distant trees comfortably, its too distinctive for close up foliage. The pointed round allows a variety of stroke sizes and shapes.

This painting uses only 3 colours (Yellow Ochre, Permanent Rose, Ultramarine Blue) plus black and white. There is no medium used, only White Spirits.

The painting is 12″ x 9″.

River Island

Posted on by
River Island

River Island

Although still wet underfoot, its safe to follow the river track and enjoy the nice bright days of spring.

The painting is 16″ x 11′. Only 3 colours used (Yellow Ochre, Permanent Rose, Cobalt Blue) plus black and white. There is no medium used, only White Spirits. The bulk of the painting was with a single long bristled no. 10 brush. A liner was used for fine lines.

Flood Damage

Posted on by
Flood Damage

Flood Damage

The floods have abated and after a few frosty days the riverbank has a ‘shredded’ appearance. Nevertheless, the worst of the winter is over and the light is returning.

This is the second painting using a long bristled filbert (classic filbert Size 10 produced by ‘Rosemary and Co Artists Brushes’). I have a few more handmade brushes, pointed rounds from the same company, which I intended to try out as I’ve always used standard round bristles. The filbert was so versatile I did not need any other brush apart from a liner for the really fine lines and details.

The single brush technique is not for everyone. In traditional oil painting it would require a lot of brush cleaning between colours and this would not be good for the brush. I allow the colours to ‘evolve’ one into the next on the brush with very little or no cleaning. This of course is possible because of the minimal palette (3 colours, in this painting Yellow Ochre, Permanent Rose and Prussian Blue).

This painting is 12″ x 9″ and took about an hour and a half in a single painting session.

Winter Grey

Posted on by
Winter Grey

Winter Grey

Bright days but grey.

I’m using a longer bristled filbert. A classic filbert Size 10 produced by ‘Rosemary and Co Artists Brushes’. My previous filbert is a standard brush and after years of use the bristles have worn too short to produce the blends of colours I need in skies and water. The new longer bristled brush produces smoother blends, the ‘spring’ in the bristles makes it easier, less scraping and lifting of paint.

This painting uses only 3 colours (Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Cerulean Blue) plus black and white. There is no medium used, only White Spirits.

Here’s the painting process, see you soon.