http://www.painters-online.co.uk artistDecember 2019 15
PRACTICAL
Q How do I decide what to paint?
A You will know it when you see it. I have a painting friend who says he
just walks about until something winks at him. However, beware of just
wandering about aimlessly. Years ago, before my irst trip to Venice,
another friend said I shouldn’t shy away from painting all the obvious
subjects as they had excited so many painters over the years for a reason
and to paint the Salute across the water is still a great thing. I distinctly
remember a sort-of-crisis when I decided to explore a little further aield,
convinced there might be something even more amazing round the next
corner, and wasted a whole day. In fact, the opposite approach can be
really fruitful. These days I often focus on a single location, painting many
little oils and watercolour notes from the same spot and really exploring
the changing light. Between paintings, a careful line drawing, developed
throughout my stay will make the subject ‘mine’ and give me an invaluable
reference for studio work.t Working around a particular location, a careful line drawing will help
to inform a rapidly made painting when I return to the studio. 14 3 12in
(35.5 3 25.5cm)q Waiting for the Boat, Isola de Ponza, oil on board, 12 3 14in
(30.5 3 35.5cm).
One of several small oil studies painted on the spot from the same location
as the drawing (left)w