Landscapes

I mentioned recently that I needed to do some work on my landscapes. I feel I've neglected landscape and will shortly hope to resume, weather permitting,  plein air painting. Like many others I started out painting landscapes, in my instance studying and copying the work of the two Edwards, Seago and Wesson at a local artists studio.  The apprentices of the great masters learned their trade by copying so I have no qualms about it, although I never attempted to sell them, even if they had been good enough. I should add this followed two years at a weekly art course run by the local authority, where I struggled with the basics. Neither of these were proper teaching courses,with little or no tuition, so it was a case of learn what you could. After this I studied with several well-known artists the key ones being Trevor Waugh, Judi Whitton and Charles Reid. I actually became quite good as a Wesson/ Seago clone but became restless and started on the journey, by way of interest in John Yardley, Robert Wade and several others that led me to Judi Whitton and Charles Reid. I then decided  I must settle down as each change of direction increases the learning curve and the years were rolling by. 

Here are two examples of John Blockleys work .I particularly like the second painting especially the textural effects. They are examples from his earlier period as he later changed style quite dramatically and also medium.

 A different more modern and much more abstract approach  from the Belgium artist Gerda Mertens, not so well known as the others but popular in Europe. Not all of her landscapes are quite as abstract as these two.

The Famous American artist Winslow Homer

 Edward Seago

 Edward Wesson

So here we have a small selection of quite different approaches by some- there are many more - famous  artists who painted in watercolour, but not necessarily exclusively. In such august company I'm reluctant to post my own efforts but..... 

Trees - In the style of Gerda Mertens 16" x 12" Centenaire 140lb  Not.

Keynsham Park in January - 16" x 12" Centenaire 140lb Not

South Lake Slimbridge in Winter- 15" x 11" Not

 Keynsham Park January 2012 Fabriano Artistico Extra White 18" x 12" Not

The two top paintings were done at recent  Monday sessions of my Bathampton Art group, where members `own artwork' is the programme. The third painting of Slimbridge was done some years ago, at least five possibly longer, and represented the best of the work I did in my `old' style. I think there are elements in there worth copying. The fourth and final painting I completed today, after painting it at my Avon Valley Artist's session yesterday, when the subject was ` A Winter Scene'. The two Keynsham Park scenes are essentially the same view, one Portrait the other Landscape format. What am I aiming at? I'm not certain as these paintings are experimental but a rough answer would be a cross between  Gerda Mertens and Wesson/Seago with touches of Judi Whitton and Charles Reid.. I'm also increasingly attracted to Blockley's landscapes. How will it all end?

For the new paintings I used my normal palette with the addition of Daniel Smith's Indigo. The colours would include, Raw and Burnt Umber, Gold Ochre, Raw Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Hookers Green (Graham), Viridian (Rowney) and Ultramarine Violet (Rowney PV15). Some purples were mixed from Ultramarine Blue and Permanent Carmine (W & N PR N/A). Some greens mixed from Hansa Yellow Medium (Daniel Smith PY97) and Cobalt Blue Deep (Rowney PB72). There is also some Rowney FW Acrylic black heavily diluted at the base of the tree on the left. The top one also includes some Quinacridone Gold (Daniel Smith PO49) and Quinacridone Rust (Graham PO48), possibly others. I aim to sort my palette (actually three would you believe) into a more orderly number as I've been so seduced by both Graham and Daniel Smith paints that I've bought quite a few, increasing the choice considerably. The colours are certainly seductive. My plan is to have a main palette of 16 to 24 paints with a secondary palette of 9 to 12. As I paint a range of subjects this will give me the flexibility I need. I know many will throw their hands up in horror at this number but I usually don't use more than a dozen colours in any one painting and a core of about 6 or 7 for most of the work. I've also been trying granulation and texture mediums from Winsor & Newton. I don't like the latter much and may not use it again.

Apart from yesterday my usual brushes when painting at the art group, a selection of Escoda retractables Series 1214, 8, 10 and 12 together with a Rosemary retractable rigger  and Isabey retractable 6201 Size 6, all Kolinsky sables. For the final painting I used mainly the Isabey 6228 Size 8 Kolinsky, Da Vinci Maestro 10 Size 6  plus a couple of riggers. I keep saying that both Isabeys are lovely brushes and they really are!

Gerda Mertens - A Way with Trees

Some years ago I was very interested in the English landscape artist Edward Wesson. Wesson was something of a cult figure with an enormous following and several books have been written about him and his paintings. One of the best known was by Ron Ranson and I remember Ron writing that `Ted', as he was commonly known to friends, had `a way with trees'. This lady also has `a way with trees'.

Recently I became aware of the artist Viktoria Prischedko and that led me, quite by chance, to Gerda Mertens.

Gerda Mertens - the lady on the left.

I'm not absolutely certain I've identified Gerda correctly but I think so. This is taken I believe at the Dum Pingo Vivo group that she runs in Balen, Holland, although when I say run it does appear to be a very co-operative organisation involving much discussion as well as painting. She runs numerous weekly courses in Holland and at least one in France.

Gerda graduated in 1980 as a secondary school teacher of Plastic Arts (what is that?) at the Sint-Maria Institute in Antwerp. Her education appears to have been comprehensive involving a 35 hr week and several different teachers, each a specialist in their particular field.  Still more education took place, both domestically and abroad, including a spell at the China Academy of Fine Arts, studying Chinese painting. 

She likes  a variety of subjects, buildings and landscapes predominating. She also favours painting plein air. What struck me most were her tree studies.

What do you think of that lot? I love them and already I'm pondering how I can incorporate this free and colourful approach into my landscapes.

What is her approach? Her drawing style is described (in her words) as  `a mixture of intuitive and analytical'. I'm not quite sure how I interpret that, perhaps someone can enlighten me. 

Gerda's preferred palette comprises 10 colours. Two yellows, two reds and two blues with cold and warm versions of each, making four of each type. That makes twelve by my calculation not ten and her signature colour is Burnt Sienna which she describes as `a must'.

Paper is either hand-made or machine made, and brushes a natural hair/synthetic  mix, both flat and round. No indication of what makes she uses nor, in the case of paints the specific colours. 

These are other examples of her style as applied to buildings. You have this slightly distorted effect, more obvious on some paintings than others. On Wetcanvas I posed the question about this rather different approach and a Danish member replied that this was a currently popular vogue in watercolour and there were many  Continental artists doing it. He gave a link to another artist called Voka www.voka.at  (Please note:There appears to be a problem with this link. When you click on it an `Oops this link appears to be broken' appears. Follow the suggestion it then gives to click on www.voka.at  and you should get there.   As with Viktoria Prischedko the approach seems to apply various degrees of realism with abstraction and even distortion. I like some of it and some I'm not so sure about. 

I confess I don't have permission to show the above paintings but as I have no commercial objectives, and am  highlighting the artist, hope this is acceptable. If advised otherwise I will delete them (and the post!). Her website which enlarges on the above is : www.gerdaaquarel.be/