The postcard exchange update, February landscape in mixed media

A muddy lane in February, one for the postcard exchange, roughly A5

This was my February postcard for our exchange - now posted on our group blog.

It ws done with a loose underpainting in watercolour and Caran d'Ache Neocolor II, then some coloured pencil, more of the Caran d' applied without water and a little oil pastel and gouache.

At the beginning of spring the hawthorn hedges briefly have a pink glow as the sap rises and the tiny leaf buds swell a little. It was very cold still. As soon as the leaves grow a little more, the pink is gone.

Dried grasses made calligraphic marks against spiky hedges and the slight mistiness made the far trees a bluish haze.

It was wet and squelchy and there were deep puddles in the tracks along the lane.

My March card was posted a couple of days ago and I'm looking forward to receiving my next one :>) I've no idea which member it will be from. I've received 2 gorgeous cards so far :>)

Comments

annie said…
Really lovely, Vivien. I do like the glow and texture. Caran d'Ache Neocolor II is great fun to use.
annie
7:39 pm
Lunar Hine said…
Quite jealous of the recipient of this.
That hawthorn pink places the scene in its brief season. Can't imagine why it isn't painted more often - such a lovely spray of colour while it lasts and so delicate against the greens of everything else.
I struggle to get me Caran d'Ache crayons to mix evenly (with water, I mean). Any tips?
8:38 am
vivien said…
thank you both :>)

tips? mmmm - I think I'd say use them with watercolour - using the watercolour loosely for where you want pale luminosity.

The caran d' are a rather more like gouache, heavier and more opaque even used thinly, so use them over the watercolour where you want the effects that they can give.

I'm glad someone else enjoys that brief flush of colour :>)
9:15 am
Lunar Hine said…
Thank you Vivien. I'll give that a go.
9:36 am
Robyn Sinclair said…
I was hoping you'd describe how you achieved this beautiful postcard, Vivien now I realise it's not just the knowledge of what you did but the talent you brought to it. I'm just going to have to wait for my postcard from you because it's the closest I'm going to get to such mixed media magic.
3:01 pm
Lindsay said…
The colors are lovely!
4:35 pm
vivien said…
aaawww thanks :>)
7:36 pm
laurel said…
Beautiful! I'd like to be walking down that lane.
4:20 am
vivien said…
thanks :>) - warning - it WAS cold!
1:48 pm
Donald Flake said…
A fab sketch. Brilliant use of colour. Great grainy texture too
5:21 pm
Donald Flake said…
briil use of colours and texture!!
5:23 pm
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hedges silhouetted agains the snow, winter light: watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal pencils in Stillmand and Birn Beta Hardback sketchbook

Image
 Detail  I have always liked the calligraphic tangle of the hedges when they are sihouetted against the sky.   Recent snowfall meant even more opportunities with amazing light and the landscape simplified and hidden by the snow, throwing hedges into relief. Above is a detail of a double page sketch in the lovely Stillman and Birn Beta A4 hardback sketchbook.  This paper is so forgiving and the watercolour works beautifully with it.  It allowed me to work through wet washes with charcoal pencil - something that tears many papers, leaving holes.  Some of the hedge is paint, some tinted charcoal. First snow, more on the way, winter light: silhouetted hedges in watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal in a Stillman and Birn A4 beta hardback sketchbook The earlier warm golden glow of the low sun is covered by clouds, threatening more snow to come.   The spiky calligraphic marks of the hedge and the underlying form of the bank, w...
Read more

The Eye, Urban/Rural exhibition

Image
Vivien Blackburn's work in the Urban/Rural show We've just hung a group show at the The Eye Project, Urban/Rural show.  If you want to come and see it it's on for a month - well worth seeing, 11 lovely artists and some fabulous work. Those large canvasses are 40 inches square. There are rural landscapes, flowerscapes, intriguing textile work including a large knitted building, abstracts .... something for everyone. It's in the gallery below the cafe in the Adult Education Centre at the top of Wellington street, Leicester, opposite Fenwicks.  Meet the Arttists day is Saturday 1st April 10-2.  Come and have a chat with us?
Read more

looking at non traditional composition and quiet vs busy areas in paintings

Image
Paul Klee I thought I'd look at non-traditional composition - where the rule of thirds isn't the key but the painting relies on different compositional methods. in response to an excellent series of posts on the various ways of looking at composition by Katherine (link at end). These alternative considerations or breaking of rules - but making it work - appeal to me more than too heavy a reliance on the rule of thirds. The painting above, by Paul Klee is a 'field' painting' - the composition is overall, the eye travels around enjoying the glowing colour that he creates by juxtaposing complementary colours, subtle greyed greens enhancing the oranges/reds/pinks. Most of the image is composed of the various greens, greeny browns and khakis, with accents of the warm colours. When working this way it's important that the balance is unequal and that the accent colours are placed carefully to keep the eye moving in the way the artist wants. A couple of the brighter...
Read more