I’ve at last managed to see my grand-daughter after nine months…..far too long a time, but the re-union was a wonderful moment! Bit exhausting as well, keeping up with a lively 3-year-old. That, and other urgent work has kept me from doing any blogs for 6 weeks, I’m afraid.
Summer still clings on with some beautiful days, the trees in fine form. When painting summer trees in full leaf I find it easiest to do the foliage in two stages, firstly the lighter colour – usually green – and then the darker, shadow green. It pays to run your branches into the darker shadows, losing them naturally rather than in stark contrast. Make sure you stab little spots of the green outside the main boundary of the foliage as you see in the watercolour below, otherwise your foliage will appear lumpy.
Just above the stile and slightly to the right you will see some light spots of yellowy-green. These were achieved with gouache, which being opaque will show up over dark areas, unlike pure watercolour, and here they suggest detail within a dark, featureless part of the tree. The stile and some branches in the bottom right-hand bush have been done with the negative method whereby the darkest passages have been painted with a fine no. 6 sable brush to avoid those features.
This painting is featured in my new book Landscapes Through the Seasons, to be published shortly by Search Press. Amongst other things, it includes introducing flowers into the landscape, managing summer greens, brushwork for foliage, the power of introducing spot colour, coping with riotous summer foregrounds, emphasising a sense of spring and fiery autumn colours. The book is actually an extension of my Winter Landscapes book, as so many have enquired about one on summer landscapes. You will find details on my website, www.davidbellamy.co.uk in a few weeks time.
Make the most of what is left of summer and make sure you gather as many subjects to paint in sketch or photographic form before winter arrives and we get any further lockdowns. Painting is such a wonderful antidote to Covid-19!!!
Looking forward to the book. Do glad you met upeith your grand daughter such times are very precious.
Really good to see your green tree in all its colour green shades bringing your picture alive. I will have a go in my next watercolour sketch which might end up as a greeting card!
David, what an amazing blog ! You have awakened my love of watercolour and especially of your lovely painting. It’s been asleep with all this gloom. I am so looking forward to this book, another for my collection and I’m feeling full of anticipation, each one better than the last if that is even possible ! But I am certain it’s going to be the thing that sees me through this coming isolating winter, perfectly timed David, thank you
Excellent post! Thanks!
Your mountain and wild landscape paintings have always impressed me. I often refer to your books for inspiration and guideline, you certainly capture the true splendor of some of these remote scenes.I have found your books very useful and encouraging, they have been of great benefit to me. I have led hikes to some of the remotest and spectacular areas of the Drakensberg for many years, but now as age and lack of fitness to attain the heights of thies magnificent mountains has taken its toll, I now have the benefit of your books to inspire and re-live some of those memories. I look forward to your latest publication. Best regards. David Tighe.