The Artist - UK (2020-03)

http://www.painters-online.co.uk artistMarch 2020 39

PRACTICAL

Brian Smith

runs classes for watercolour painters,

demonstrates to art societies and tutors

workshops at West Dean College and

Higham Hall, among others.

For more information visit:

http://www.briansmithartist.com.

 FINISHED PAINTING

Getting By, watercolour, 13¼21¼in (33.554cm).

The pick-up truck, seated gures and hotchpotch

of objects draw the viewer to the group shaking

hands with the old man. Movement is essential, the

suggestion of other gures create atmosphere down

the street. The foreground gure leaning against

the pillar draws the viewer into the group. He stands

with his possessions around his feet, cigarette in

hand nowhere to go and nothing to do but stand and

stare as the world passes by. I suggested him with

heavier pigment, forming a collective foreground

shape against the light source. Flesh tones are burnt

sienna, and I also used touches of pure pigment: light

turquoise, lavender, pyrrole red. The small touches of

white are Doctor Martins Bleed-Proof White ink. The

main question is when to stop, which I did at this point

t STAGE SIX
I now needed to create the focus
of the painting. I wanted to imply
people with movement, coming and
going. The gures on the left help to
draw the viewer in, the gap between
their legs being enough to imply
motion and I wanted to suggest
street traders selling second-hand
wares. I worked across the central
area, placing the heads of the
gures, which are about 7 to 8 heads
high, roughly on the eye-level line.
This puts the viewer on the street
and part of what is going on.
I encouraged the tonal values to
blend