Saturday, April 26, 2008

Fast fast slow

This is the view from the glass doors of my little studio - it was another glorious autumn day and actually a pleasure to be outside hanging up washing and instead of going back inside, I went into the studio and sketched the washing. The big dark shadow it threw interested me, so I painted that again. I have vague plans for this piece of garden including herbs, flowers, arches and water, but it has to also contain the washing line - there is just no other place for it...
I really need to slow down on my watercolour painting, or at least spend more time planning it. I'm not really getting past this sketchy stage - very impatient to get everything down as fast as possible. I want to keep a loose fresh quality, but also be a bit more accurate with the information - those trees in the background of the first one are just scribbled. After this I started drawing my paintbrushes perhaps to send in for Vivien Blackburn's project... very painstakingly and slowly to train myself to look more and slow down. Now that I've re-read her challenge, I see it's sketching your paintbrushes, so perhaps I should hurry it up again. Sigh.

5 comments:

Gillian said...

Who would think that a washing line could make such a delightful picture. I say keep up with the speedy side of your w/c work. You ARE so observant and it comes through clearly in your work. As Adam has said "It reads well...!" I used the Chinese calligraphy brush you gave me today!!
It is lovely - thank you so much for it!

Cathy Gatland said...

Well, thank yew... just when I look at some work out there, mine looks pretty slapdash - think I need some self-discipline!
Hope you enjoy using the brush...

Vivienne said...

Need confidence not discipline as it would be a shame to lose the fresh and joyful energy in your work. The observation is all there. These are great. Are they in the sketch book? I really think you should have one to frame. XX

Anonymous said...

Love those shadows! And I love your "slapdashing"...like vivienne said, there is plenty of observation and your treatment is so beautifully free!
Ronell

Anonymous said...

I love these juicy shadows!