Van Gogh Watercolours - New and Revised Range?

I was recently informed by a comment on the blog from Sebastien that a major revision of the Van Gogh range is taking place.  Added 11/12/08: Although I've still no acknowledgment from Talens to my FOUR e mails the new range colour chart is now on the Royal Talens website. No pigment details but colour swatches of all the new range. It's appeared in the last two days! Actually it's all a bit confusing. If you go to one part of the site following Van Gogh you get details of the old range of forty colours! 

However when I went on the Royal Talens site there is no mention of this and the only information is about the current 40 paint range. Sebastien gave me a link which is https://issuu.com/royal talens/docs/vangogh_wtc which takes you to this site - not anything to do with Royal Talens as far as I can see - and there it was in all its glory? Full details including swatches, reference to the brochure etc.  I have e mailed Royal Talens three times - and just sent off another one, the result being a deafening silence, no response whatsoever. Maybe this information is supposed to be under wraps and has been 'pirated' before an official release date. On the other hand is it only intended for 'certain markets'.

What does this issuu site tell us? The new range is expanded to 72, a major change in itself, and includes four 'dusk' colours, 6 metallics and 6 interference. Remind you of for example Daniel Smith? The new colours include Quinacridone Purple Red and Blue, Lavender, Turquoise Blue and Green and several interesting others. A number of existing colours are 'improved (it says) and overall this is a considerable upgrade. Pigment details are on this site although very small and difficult to read. There are no Cobalts or, only alternative 'hues", and quite a few multi pigment mixes. Some interesting pigments though , never before seen in student mixes, like PV255 and PY129. 

I've always rated Van Gogh and used them at one time. They are a mid-range paint (in my opinion), despite sometimes called student quality. However Royal Talens offer Rembrandt as the artists quality with Amsterdam as the student range. Van Gogh comes in the middle.

When whatever is happening comes about and they become available in the UK I shall certainly have a fresh look as artists quality prices are eye watering. I just hope they aren't intended for certain markets like the USA where Winsor & Newton offer a much better Cotman range than the one on offer in the UK (and Europe). Please come clean Royal Talens.

Watercolour Paintings 49

Here are Decembers batch. Another mixture of old and newer artists, including some of the very best and some of my favourites. 

Liu Yu



Trevor Lingard

Bev Jozwiak

Milind Mullick

 

John Singer Sargeant

Charles Reid

Karl Martens



Trevor Chamberlain

Morten E Solberg Snr

Thomas Schaller

John Blockley

Robert Zangarelli

Michel Jasiowicz



Robert Ferguson



Atsushi Matsubayashi




Claudia Artzmann



Jose Luis Lopez




John Yardley



Michele Clamp




Gerard Hendriks



Charles Reid



Andrew Wyeth

That's it folks. Hope you like them.

Catherine Beale

We don't have many demos  at Avon Valley Artists but have just had one by the Bath artist Catherine Beale -  https://catherinebeale.com/ - at our venue of Saltford Church Hall. Catherine teaches a method she calls 'Gravity Painting' using watercolour. In simple terms this is the application of wet in wet watercolour with the board vertical. 

The initial setup

Catherine starts and explains her approach and what she is trying to achieve.

Catherine begins explaining her approach and what she wanted to achieve.  However with this type of painting 'happy accidents' do occur and she improvises as she goes along, although having a strong idea of where she wants to end up. In the bottom right hand corner of her board you will see a small photograph of the clump of trees on Kelston Hill, nr Bath. This is a famous landmark and many people make the fairly steep climb up to experience the fabulous view. This was her starting point - but I emphasise not something she was trying to copy, just a guide.

 The paper is wet from the top using a one inch Protel flat brush- not the whole of the paper but in stages.. This together with a Protel rigger were all the brushes she used. She told me this is her normal approach and usual brushes. Only five colours were used. Indathrene Blue (PB60) from Daler Rowney, Moonglow (Daniel Smith PG18,PB29,PR177),  Phthalo Turquoise (W & N PB16), Sap Green and Raw Sienna. Moonglow has become something of a cult colour, a green, blue and red combination that produces a moody grey-blue, violet colour, perfect for shadows for example. Her overall preference for paints are Winsor & Newton artist watercolours. My choice of PB16 is the Lukas version, called just Turquoise. which is just as good and cheaper. A fabulous pigment and a favourite also of the terrific American artist Bex Jozwiak.

Paper used was rather unusual in that it is Watercolour board from Daler & Rowner, usually A3. This isn't very common. Catherine is also experimenting with painting on wood treated with Gesso.

Paint is applied with the flat brush and allowed to 'gravitate' helping it along but not overdoing the brushwork.

This is now now quite a way along with Sap Green and Raw Sienna being introduced in careful touches - placing paint I would describe this. The rigger has also been used for the tree trunks and the whole  

thing is now taking shape.  More work will be done on it after further thought and contemplation. She had reservations about the dark colour in the top corners but had yet to decide how to modify it.

The palettes Catherine used.

Salt - which she uses to create effects on her paintings.

Examples of Catherines paintings.

Catherine also paints Portraits as well as landscapes. Her landscape work covers real and imaginary images and arbitrary colours in some instances. Two of my fellow members of the AVA did a two day portrait course with her a few weeks ago which they thoroughly enjoyed. Although my portrait work (modest as it is) is a little different I intend to take a course with her probably in March.  I have an open mind and look at different artists all the time, hoping to gain inspiration and improve my painting. You are never too old to learn (I hope!).

Overall this was an excellent demonstration with an articulate  teacher. If you live within reach of Bath I would certainly recommend her courses.

INDEX

I have just updated the INDEX. This is in JULY 2014. I know accessing this is a bit of a fag BUT there is a lot of good stuff there, including by other contributors. Sorry I originally said June.

To access the Index. 

1. Scroll down list on right hand side.

2. Click on 2014.

3. Click on July.

4. Click on Index.

Latest Paintings

Here are some of my latest efforts. I make the usual proviso I don't post them as good just what I am producing at the moment. My painting has always been on the inconsistent side, partly because I never want to get into a rut and just turn out the same stuff painting after painting.

Hare 16" x 12"

This was an exercise at my art group using a limited pallette. In this instance my choice was  three primaries but not the usual ones. The colours were: Hansa Yellow Medium (Daniel Smith PY97), Permanent Magenta (Maimeri PV19 Rose shade), Turquoise )Lukas PB16). I wouldn't normally do this but it does force you into areas you don't usually go. 

I started this one as I had a short time to spare after finishing the days subject at my art group. This is based on Charles Reid's teachings in his books/videos and workshops. The features are done first. HOWEVER on re-watching his last dvd - Figures in watercolour - I noticed he'd changed his approach ,or at least I thought he had, by doing a wash overall first. I also was looking for inspiration  and  to correct bad habits that seem to develop in my painting. I think the root cause is not painting enough. I read somewhere that to maintain your standard you needed to paint at least three times a week, even more if you wish to improve. Given my advanced age it's also a case of not wanting the rot to set in!

'Dead Horse' Flathead. c 1905 16" x 12"

This is the finished painting. I quite like it even though I'm sure I do things wrongly. I tried not to overwork this one - a perennial problem.

'King of the Jungle - 16" x 12"

I feel, while a reasonable representation I have overworked this one. Lots of colour Translucent Orange (Schmincke PO71). Translucent Brown (Schmincke PBr41), Quinacridone Gold (Daniel Smith PO49)  plus Cerulean Blue, Burnt Umber , Raw Sienna etc. I also did highlights with some acrylic white,  using a little Pebeo Gum to mask the whiskers. I almost always paint from photos these days and that does incline you towards bad habits. I have learned though not to copy every detail.

'Model' 16" x 12"

This was done on the same session as the above. The left eye facing is not quite right and I may alter it but it was mainly an exercise  in getting the skin tones right which  has  worked reasonably well. I also like the jewellery on the facing left hand side.

Khadi rough A4

A very quick exercise of a treecreeper done on about 20 minutes.

'Big Cat' 16" x 12"

'Ptarmigan in Winter" 16" x 12"

An exercise in simplicity, although not deliberately so.

'Treecreeper' Khadi rough A4

This was done previously to to the  treecreeper one above.

'Jay' 16" x 12"

'Autumn' 16" x 12'

I'm not sure what this bird is.

The papers I am using sat the moment are Waterford High White, Stonehenge Aqua and Khadi rough.

Watercolour Paintings 48

Here are Novembers batch. They are a mixture of different styles and old and newer artists. Hope you like them.

Gerard Hendriks

An excellent example of Gerards Bird Paintings

Edo Hannema




Dianne Benoit

I'm lucky if my Amerindian paintings get half a dozen likes but Dianne got a lot for this one. I'm taking note of how she has approached the subject!

Dusan Djukaric



Jerry de la Rosa

A new artist to me



Winslow Homer
The revered American artist




Trevor Lingard




Stan Miller



Morten e Solberg Snr



Yuko Nagayama

An amazing watercolour

Another from Yuko Nagayama - what a contrast to the previous painting.



Gerda Mertens

The notable Belgian artist

Charles Reid

I was on the workshop  when Charles painted this demo. It was at Burford, near Witney in Oxfordshire.The young man was a member of the hotels staff and and he posed in the garden. It was actually my first with CR and the standard was very high. He commented on this himself and I really struggled.  Although always of a high standard none of the following workshops reached the same level and I gradually adapted. There were artists from all over the World and several were professionals. 

Milind Mullick



The fine American artist Janet Rogers



Catherine Rey



Michelle Clamp


Another from Janet Rogers




Edward Seago - Legendary British Artist



Jean Claude Papieux





Alvaro Castagnet




Chien Chung- Wei



Another from Chien Chung -Wei




Jonathan Kegyir Aggrey

Different one from Jonathan.



Robert Wade




Jan Martens

This artist specialises in birds and they are actually very large




John Yardley



Janine Gallizia

Wonderful!


Thats it folks