Friday, November 09, 2007

Craving Colour


San Nicolo - Cortona 24x32cm CP watercolour

San Nicolo is a lovely little church rather a steep walk up through the streets of Cortona. I took a photograph about a year ago and used that as a reference for this watercolour. I'm getting increasingly frustrated with photo references and realise no matter how quick and rough a sketch you make, there is a chance of a better result simply because the sketch will alert an inexperienced artist (like myseslf) to problems not immediately apparent in a photograph. The photograph is then really a great secondary resource.

In watercolour class I've been working a lot with subdued colour and different approaches to texture. Today I realised I had a craving for colour. Below is the result - same subject with watercolour, oil pastel, charcoal and pen. A bit like polishing off a whole bar of chocolate ;)


Mixed media on Cotman CP

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great work in both robyn. I love the first one for the colour and texture of the walls and the second is exactly like you say...pure visual joy!
Ronell

Joan said...

Robyn, Working from photographs is always hard for me. There's always something that you can't see clearly and then you spend so much time trying to figure out what it is. I guess that's why I like plein air so much. You can just get up and get a closer look.

Both of these are lovely, although I love the top one with the true Tuscan colors. Nice job!!

Casey Klahn said...

Hmmn...this one is familiar to me for some reason.

I love this and what a great lesson using the two examples. I wonder what a synthesis of the two would look like?

As an aside, I remember that my own effort on this one had so many problems. I am more motivated now to be a little more realistic with perspective. I also remember some technical problems with pastel and paper. Even now, I have a sketch of a local scene that lacks some perspective, but I am remembering or tuning my eye to recognize this.

It doesn't help my Italy landscapes that Italy is never flat.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Ronell - Many thanks. You will know from my previous pictures that this burst of colour was really liberating for me!

Joan - Thank you. Did you ever get to Cortona?

Casey - I'm going to try to post a link to your painting. Going back to find it in your blog, I realise that I'm such a long way from getting out of painting kindergarten.
To explain to my Other Reader. When Casey started his Italian Landscapes series I was thrilled when he asked if he could use a couple of my photos for reference. You can see here:
http://100italianpaintings.blogspot.com/2007/02/
passing-around-corner.html
what he did with this one. He made a proper painting of it!
I've just realised looking at your painting, Casey, I totally forgot the trees in the background. Don't know how that happened. I was looking forward to painting them.
And if someone can tell me how to post a link into a comment I would be most grateful :)

mARTa said...

ok my friend, this is what I percieved: The first of course looks finished...beautifully done by the way. The figure off to the right, the harmony of the color palette, the 'experienced' eye for the play of light and shadow is beautiful as well... The second rendition is captivating for the life the color brings to it! It sings!...Do you remember me telling you a watercolor teacher once told me adding cobal violet to landscapes many times brought them to life? I too would enjoy seeing a merging of these two fine watercolors by a wonderful artist! I think you should go with this line of painting and see where it takes you. more, do another and another!!!! Brava!

Anonymous said...

[url=http://iamdoghearmesnore.blogspot.com/]Does this work?[/url]

Robyn Sinclair said...

Marta - You are way too generous! But thank you. Yes, I remember your tip about cobalt Violet. I have used it as a wash in a couple of recent paintings.

Anonymous - Nope - doesn't work. And this looks like a bit of blatant self-promotion, Dermott!

Dermott said...

Yeah yeah. At least I tried.

Try this:

Boofhead

Robyn Sinclair said...

Amazing! Now how many brisket bones am I going to have to cough up in order to get the code?

Dermott said...

There aren't enough brisket bones in the known universe.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Here's the link to Casey's (The Colorist) painting Passing Around Corner

Robyn Sinclair said...

That one didn't work. You're a genius, Dermott.

I'll try again.

Casey's painting

Robyn Sinclair said...

Bummer! It's saying - to me, anyway - that the URL doesn't exist.

Trying again:

Casey's painting

Fingers crossed!

Dermott said...

This is sad to watch.

Robyn Sinclair said...

How humiliating. Embarrassed on the internet by a boofhead.

One last try:

Casey's painting

Fingers crossed!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Yay!

Dermott said...

Yeah yeah. You html code wiz, you.

juj said...

I keep a bar of very expensive Blegian chocolate in my bedside drawer. Most nights before I go to bed I tell myself I will indulge in a small morsel, breaking it carefully along the lines and savoring each drop as it melts in my mouth. But truth be told - I find I get much more satisfaction on the nights when I just break off a hunk at random and wolf it down in big bites, the powerful mix of flavors hitting my tongue all at once and sending my senses reeling.

Your first painting is lovely, and very easy to look at - but the second one gives me a joy and satisfaction that will last through the night.

Quilt knit said...

Hi! I have wanted to tell you for sometime that I just adore the dogs, what breed are They! So soft fluffy and look like lots of fun.
Oh! this is the first time I have seen Your work. Just Wow! I am blown away.
Maybe someday I will get to visit Italy and see your work in person.

Sherrie

Joan said...

We didn't get to Cortona. It was on my list of places to visit, but with only a week it was impossible to visit them all. I would love to visit there again...anytime!

Casey Klahn said...

Every link to my painting works. Nice job.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Judi - Thank you :) I think it is getting cold enough here to justify keeping a bar of chocolate in my bedside table again. Trouble is if I rustle the paper two dogs and HWEM almost kill me in the rush!

Quilt knit - Many thanks for your kind words. As for the dogs, Dermott is an Old English Sheepdog and Snowy is a Bichon Frise. They are at grooming today - for about two days after that, they are gorgeous, then it's all downhill until the next salon visit.

Elizabeth A Patterson said...

I think your second, colorful watercolor looks like the "dream" version of the scene.

Anonymous said...

Robyn - I haven't been around much due to family matters, however I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and seeing all that you have been up to lately.
Wonderful!
My husband is coming to Tuscany with his boss and a few business associates for a week after Thanksgiving. I will have to ask where her villa is.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Liz - thank you :)

Robin - Thank you. Lovely of you to drop in. Shame you aren't coming to Tuscany too. We could meet for a little sketchcrawl. I can always do with your great eye for perspective ;)

Anonymous said...

Oh Robyn... I tried, but it is a trip provided by my husband's boss and no spouses are attending. DARN
I would love to sketch with you. The boss bought a villa there, so maybe I can wager a bargain with her.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...