PROJECT 5 COMPOSITION

Starting on composition.  Difficult because this is an intuitive thing for me.  This exercise is about using tone and colour to make different compositions   zzzz  Still a bit burnt out from the panoramic paintings, but recovering:))

Next stage of this involves choosing from:

• two or more horizontal lines
• something intersecting the painting
• large empty space and small details surrounding
• very large foreground object intersecting 2 sides of the painting.

 First approach - make preparatory studies, drawings and colour studies.I decided to stay in studio for this for convenience and use the view of the ditch from window which I did not really resolve in previous project.  It will be option 2 with the ditch intersecting the painting.

I tried to start with charcoal as instructed but found I preferred to start in paint, messily as usual.  Here is result #1, done intuitively    Below is result #2, done later, painted over #1 to simplify it once I had got to grips more with thinking about the composition.

I have to paint fast to start with, get to know the subject and work out what I am trying to do before I can reflect and understand. I have to do it before I can think what I am doing!
  

Result #1

Result #2

Today I had another look and overpainted another attempt very loosely, trying to get that sense of the big curve in the composition, emphasizing that.  Began to get intrigued by the actual direction of the ditch and how it was affecting my viewpoint.  then I started to draw in charcoal. Not sure if I am ready to start the large painting as yet.  Plan to walk along that ditch so I can actually see where it goes.

Began to play fast and loose with the painting shapes and colours in order to get a composition, sort of.I was apprehensive about composition, because it is such an intuitive thing for me, but see that I can become more aware of it and that is great.  I think. 

Reading Brambilla about how important composition is.  Also "how valuable are the uncertainties that continually force us to ask questions that keep our mind open and receptive"

"imagine you are heading down a street in a place that is totally new to you"

I took this approach today and results surprised me.

It is EXHAUSTING  I have to take a break.  Fortunately Open Studios is next week so I having a general review.  Yesterday the ditch was full of water, and I made this sketch.  Result better than #2 above, ditch more central.  It takes a lot of time to look and get to know a subject.

27 June

About three weeks break here, pictures not that well received at OS, I did not have time to do any painting during that week, or since.  However today resumed and very glad to do be doing so.  Even if I am hopeless at it, I really enjoy the slow pace, the interaction with the subject, and the surprises
This one started out as a colour study but I got involved in the composition.  For me the studies are just a way of getting acquainted with the subject. so this will become the actual painting.

I am interested in the form of the landscape and the movement.  And finding the way to show that in colour.  Still work to do on this one.  Next one will be a new subject, out of the studio.

Still exploring this.  Above is most recent version. I keep seeing it differently, understanding how my eyes are reacting. Now working on the foreground.  Using oil paint for this one.

And again, building on basic:  I think I like previous attempt better

Did this one (below) really quickly.  Now I have established the basic shapes I can think about colour and space. It has taken 2-3 weeks to get to this stage, though I was away/busy some of that time.

PROJECT 4 PANORAMIC PAINTING

Greyscale version of photos

Photo

First go at this section

Second go at this one

 
Way to go here, foreground grass too bright, hedges and plants behind cage need adjusted, drawing and colour of cage ditto.  Brightest bits are yellow protectors and sky, cage posts need to be darker, plus blueish wash for netting on top.  Light kept changing, also cannot really see because poor light falling on painting.  Usual sploshy start followed by closer look.
Sky OK, field at back more green but subdued, different colours and tones in cage need looking at.  Composition OK, sense of distance OK. 

 Usual panic with this one, took me two sessions, pic is too bright.  

Image 3

Image 4

Image 5

 This one problematic  Subject difficult partly because of the tree. Very conventional composition.  Remains unresolved, but I will hope to work it out.  Still unresolved, basically too conventional, hope sometime to resolve....  A few days later image 5, not perfect BAM but stronger.
 
But it led me to revise painting from previous project. Still a bit to do on this, but I enjoyed the freedom and won't do too much more on it.  Here it is previously (middle below).  .  Ughh.

 

PROJECT 4.3 PANORAMIC DRAWING

Vertical

This exercise is about combining different viewpoints.  Here I have moved my "gaze" from quite low (the windowsill) up to the middle of the window.  I can see that I have got frame a bit crooked on left but basically I quite like the drawing, and I was thinking of tone and potential paint all the time.


Next exercise is a panorama

First drawing and start of second (on left)

First and second drawing

 Here is first drawing and start of the second.  Third one will be like the vertical above.
I am doing the view from studio window, not my favourite subject, landscape, but it is there.  Drawing tonally.  Next day continued with second drawing, it was pouring with rain, so the light was completely different.

Third drawing

Three drawings together

OK  but third drawing not great.  Tree drawing :(