I like to sketch outdoors but must confess to being a fair weather kind of artist: no sketching on storm lashed beaches for me. Let’s face it, the weather this summer hasn’t lent itself to plein air work, so using a photograph as inspiration can often get me started on a new piece.
I like to experiment with different mediums and will often create a number of versions of a scene from the same photograph.
A photograph of the East Lomond was my starting point. Taken on a very overcast day, it might be considered to be a bit uninspiring, however; I thought I could do something with the trees and the fields in the background. I started by doing a watercolour sketch from the original photograph, simplifying the image and getting rid of a lot distracting detail.
My second attempt was created by applying acrylic paint to paper coated with an acrylic medium. To my mind, the best effects are achieved when the paint is applied thinly and in several layers. Here though, the paint was not thin enough and the colours soon turned muddy. In a bid to rescue this, I added foliage, to create a more autumnal feel and introduce some brighter colours. The overall result is still rather dark although I like some of the abstract shapes that have emerged.
Using the same technique but with lighter colours and a much thinner application of the pigment, I think I have arrived at a more satisfactory image. For the most part, the pigment has retained a translucence and the use of a palette knife has lead to some unexpected textures and effects, particularly in the foreground. The use of a brush to paint the trees also allows for finer detail in the rendering of the branches.
Of the four images, I like the last one best. I have, I think, achieved some degree of spontaneity. I think the foreground could benefit from a bit more work, particularly in the bottom right corner. I’ll leave it for a bit though: going back to a painting after a while often enables me to see it in a new light.
Art by Smart 
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