http://www.painters-online.co.uk artistMarch 2020 17
u Crail Garden Autumn, watercolour,
1943 28in (49 3 71cm).
This work and Winter Garden (below) are part
of a series of the four seasons. ‘The house to
the left of the white one was our former home
where we had the Courtyard Gallery. I had
carried out a similar process when we lived
there – that is, I painted a series based on the
row of houses, including the one in which
we now live. In a sense the subject chose me
- it was there every time I looked out of the
window. The challenge was to construct an
image from a very complicated subject. (Most
of my work deals with complex situations).
I didn’t have to decide on the composition as
it was there, ready-made. My palette for the
series was raw sienna, light red, raw umber,
burnt umber, viridian, cobalt and ultramarine.
I began with a detailed drawing and then
built all the paintings up with transparent
washes, inishing with dry brush. I plan to
return to it soon – I’m not satisied yet.’
p Winter Garden, Crail, watercolour, 174 3 26in (45 3 66cm).
A winter view of Crail Garden Autumn (above) in which the gold, amber and greens have been replaced with a cool palette. The heavy grey sky
contrasts with the burnt and raw sienna on the roof tiles. The diagonal line of the fence cutting into the scene from the bottom does not split the
composition but has the efect of drawing the eye around the painting