As part of my efforts to encourage incipient painting thoughts, I am, as usual, looking to Hazel Soan for guidance. It was pouring with rain, so I looked through my photos for a townscape with people in it to create a monochrome tonal sketch and found ….. Honestly, trying to discipline myself to follow the path I have agreed with myself is like trying to herd cats.
Colour – I can’t resist it. Isn’t this a glorious turquoise? All thoughts of monochrome townscapes fled as I plunged into the deep blue sea.
It’s Manganese Blue – a non-staining, semitransparent colour which I discovered in Zoltan Szabo’s book “Color-by-Color”. It just sings off the page, orangy-reds being the perfect accompaniment. Over washed with Viridian for the swell that lifts the shallow boat, still it glows through. That’s no small achievement as Viridian is not a shy colour. I’m truly pleased with that wave. This is letting the brush do the work. This is watercolour.
So, no townscape; no monochrome; but perhaps I can claim in self defence that the figures are virtually silhouettes.
Counsel for the Defense, you have won your case!
I don’t know which I love more; the colour or the idea of trying to herd cats!!