Like Emma,
Jane Riley is
a self-taught
artist and
encourages
others to give
it a go. “Just
buy some basic materials and
do it, even if it’s just sketching
in a book with a pencil to start
with,” she advises. “Put a
little sketchbook and
drawing pen in your
bag or pocket so
you can practise
wherever you
are – even if
it’s only a five-
minute sketch,
it teaches you
to observe.”
Jane didn’t pursue
a career in art, but instead
worked in several jobs over
the years: she was a nurse, an“Learn to observe”
Far left: St Catherine’s
Hill, Frome.
Above: Madeiran
Farmhouse.
Left: St Michael‘s
Mount, Penzance.Left: View from Rinsey,
towards Porthleven,
Cornwall.
Above: Bath Abbey
at Dusk.
Below: Somerset Hills.Jane Riley
Jane Riley’s
Tips and
essentials
OIf I’m painting a portrait
from a photo I‘ve taken,
I square up using a
sheet of clear acetate
film over an A4 photo
so that I get the
proportions of the
drawing absolutely
right. This saves hours
of frustration even if
your drawing skills are
reasonably good!
OI mainly use Winsor &
Newton Gryfin Alkyd
oils because they dry
much quicker than the
traditional type of oil
paints. I also like
Rosemary and Co
synthetic oil painting
brushes as they keep
their shape well.antiques dealer and a furniture
restorer (a French polisher, also
self-taught). Now semi-retired,
she has time to paint. “I spend
more time at the easel now,
selling the occasional piece.
I feel confident in taking on
commissions. It doesn’t make
a fortune, but if it pays for art
materials, an art book or an
outing, I’m happy. I do it because
I enjoy it so much.“
Jane mostly paints
in her home studio,
which is more
practical for oil
painting, and so
she uses photos
for reference, often
combining several
to create a good
overall composition.
“I love oils because it doesn’t
matter if you make mistakes, you
can just paint over them as manytimes as you like. It’s all about
making a mess and putting it to
rights and constant correcting.“
Jane describes her approach
to her paintings pictured above...
Bath Abbey: “I loved the glow
of the buildings in the half light.
I added the girls from sketches
and other photos. Figures add
interest and help to give scale.“
St Catherine’s Hill, Frome:
”The composition was from a
photograph I took. I increased
the tone of the shadows on the
right to emphasise the sun on
the buildings on the left and
eliminated unnecessary detail
on the shop fronts.“
Sketches from Cornwall:
“These were done on holiday
in less than half an hour. They are
in pen and a wash of watercolour
applied with a small brush from
a Winsor & Newton paint box.
A limited colour palette is best.”Don‘t be shy about going
to a class – everyone else
will feel the same. Fellow
classmates are always
supportive!