Sketchbook TIP 6 Receive instruction.
I always take at least one Sketchbook on a painting holiday.
Join a painting class or join us on one of our Painting Holidays You will be with like-minded people who will encourage you and offer constructive criticism. You will also have that regular weekly discipline that is so important to have if one is to improve.
I like to bring at least one Sketchbook to my painting demonstrations. Throughout the year I do a few watercolour classes for painting groups throughout the North East. I will be at the Knightsbridge Art Group who meet in Gosforth in June. In August I am at the Coquetdale Art Centre in Rothbury. In these demonstrations I will often show how sketchbook paintings can be used for studio works.
The watercolour painting above is a View from San Gimignano. It’s a scene that I often encourage my pupils to copy. It’s quite a simple composition. Once you have laid the first wash, it sets the mood and tone for the rest of the painting.
As long as the buildings have been drawn with care, it’s difficult to go wrong. If necessary, trace out the buildings for accuracy. You have couple of very simple washes for the distant hill. This provides depth for the painting.
The foreground is a very dark rich wash that gives even more depth to the painting. It is made of up of Payne’s Grey and a touch of Cadmium Yellow.