August Wood

As we progress through Autumn the colours are rich but the light is reducing in intensity. There is a feeling of over ripe fruit in the landscape.

As you have noticed in recent paintings, I’m using a single ‘largish’ bristle brush for the bulk of the painting. This is not self imposed hardship but part of the 3 colour method I’m working in at the moment. Not too long ago I would have used 6 or 8 brushes and more colours. In a way, more colours necessitated more brushes. Having particular brushes loaded with certain colours and not letting these brushes get ‘contaminated’ by other colours was how I managed to keep colours clean and not descend into a muddy mess.

With 3 colours (a red, yellow and blue – primary colours) I deliberately let all colours come together and only vary the different proportions in the mixes. The colours evolve on the brush blending one into the next without any cleaning of the brush. The brush for fine lines (liner) doesn’t affect this arrangement as it does not hold a significant amount of paint. As you watch the video note the colour changes on the bristle brush.

This painting uses only 3 colours (Indian Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Prussian Blue) plus black and white. The medium is a very small amount of Liquin in White Spirits (petroleum spirits) and White Spirits neat in separate containers. The painting size is 16″x12″ and was completed in a single session of about 2 hours.

Here’s the video. See you soon.