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Autumn Colours

November – December 2020

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This lovely composition was set for us by Paul Foxton in one of his online workshop that I joined.

I want to add a more rapid way of painting, one that is more expressive in its brushstrokes and uses a different palette and method of colour mixing – that stems from the Munsell Book of Colour. Paul’s workshops are inspiring and very sociable, I have joined three and so you can see I do recommend them.

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A drawing

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 I find drawing gives so much, here it acts as the basis for a painting. The proportions of scale – one thing to another; directions of the angles of leaves and stalks; dark shadows grouping together make half seen mysteries; a closeness; things clashing; moving away; curving around.

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When I draw I’m getting to know what’s happening, creating order. And it’s always so full of surprises. Crafting lines and uncovering the simple shape of things – is a great pleasure. 

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You can see the faint lines of grid used – I was working from a photograph. But also I’ve divided up the drawing into halves and quarters. Look at the activity in each quadrant . . . the beautiful, almost empty top left for instance. It helps to think about the composition abstractly.

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I added to the composition here and there. It feels like a friendly little painting. There’s always a favorite part and mine is the little pears with the leaf I found in the garden. I couldn’t resist showing you this detail – the brush strokes give a feeling of liveliness !

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detail of two little pears and a leaf

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