http://www.painters-online.co.uk artistMay 2020 35
PRACTICAL
p STAGE FOUR
I started to drop figures in to create a sense of scale and rhythm, trying to keep
the crowd casual as this was not a formal occasion, but the groups of people
needed to be linked together. I looked at groups as they came and went, mixing
and matching, pushing and pulling to develop my composition
p STAGE FIVE
Distant, middle and foreground groups help to draw the
viewer in – the figure with a walking stick had walked
past five minutes ago – as does the edge of the grass
verge. The last figure to go in was the female walking
towards us with the light top. The majority of figures face
into the subject or are talking to each other. Burnt sienna
was used for the skin tones, straight from the palette. My
pigment levels vary from skimmed milk (very diluted)
through to butter consistency. It is important to have
linked areas and I was aware that I needed to have light
against dark and dark against light, as this helps to create
a cohesive work and gives varietyq FINISHED PAINTING
Windsor, Plein-Air, watercolour on Arches HP paper 140lb (300gsm), 153/4 3 213/4in
(40 3 55cm).
This painting won the People’s Choice Award’ at the Plein-Air Day in Windsor,
which was a great accolade for me