Painting group at Douelle.

Painting group at Douelle.

Finished painting ‘Bathing at Douelle’

Our last painting class before the summer break.

On the 24th of July, a beautiful summer day, I headed off to the beach at Douelle to meet my regular painting group.

The main objectives of the session:

To start by considering colour, and to mix up enough to complete the painting (It is very frustrating to have to stop and remix in the middle of work, especially when the light changes so fast),

To work using a larger brush than usual, laying down rapidly the essentials.

To draw in the scene directly with the brush.

To be precise in the rendition of the tonal values.

The morning paintings completed, we broke for a picnic lunch in the shade. Soon the tourists and the locals began to arrive. We set up our easels a little further from the river and in the shade of the trees. I worked quickly on a demonstration oil. (Interesting challenge for me as I don’t often choose a scene where the light is direct on the subject, almost appearing to flatten out the scene) I enjoyed mixing the rich greens and the little patch of blue reflected sky.

Above, some of the work displayed on the picnic table at the end of the day.

my unfinished demonstration

Two weeks later I took up my initial demonstration and reworked it in the studio, strengthening some of the colours and adding figures for more interest. (The finished painting is at the top of the page.