Something from Nothing

Something from nothing

We all see things differently and there has been many an occasion when my wife who is also a professional Artist may see a scene or an object she wishes to paint, but it may not inspire me. This also happens vice versa as well. Many times though we both see the same scene that inspires us both!

We can miss what would be delightful small images to paint and not give them a second glance.

(Fig. 1) shows a photo I took of an old stable barn up a lane in Llandudno, North Wales, while liz and I were on an afternoon walk. Again another scene most people would just walk by and not notice. This is the subject of my demonstration.

Materials list

Colours:

Neutral Tint, French Ultamarine, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Brown Madder and Lemon Yellow.

Brushes:

½” square, No 8 round, No 4 round and a No 1 rigger (composite brushes)

4B pencil and putty rubber

(Fig. 4) shows a colour swatch for this demonstration

Stage 1

Draw the image either from the sketch(Fig 2) or from my outline drawing.(Fig. 3)

Stage 2

SKY (Fig. 5)

Mix up 4 square brushfulls of Neutral tint mix – medium strenghth

Wet the sky area around the barn and the trunk of the tree.

Using a No 8 round and not too much neutral tint on your brush, stroke in the colour with it on the side while the paper is still wet. Leave some white areas. LETDRY

Stage 3(Fig. 6 and 7)

Mix up the following washes:

Burnt Sienna – 2 brushfulls

Raw Sienna – 2 brushfulls

Lemon Yellow – 2 brushfulls

Lemon yellow + French Ultramarine+ Burnt sienna to give a green – 4 brushfulls

Wet the hedge and tree to the right then brush into the hedge, first the burnt Sienna, then the Lemon yellow and finally the green. Into the tree area, brush in the lemon yellow first then the green. LET DRY

Stage 4(Fig. 8)

Mix up a weak Alizarin Crimson wash and paint with a No 4 some of the roof and the side of the barn. LET DRY

Stage 5(Fig. 9)

Mix up a purple colour with French Ultramarine and Brown Madder – 2 Brushfulls. (medium to thick)

Make the ½” square brush, with the mix chisel edged.

With this sharp edge and holding the brush vertical paint the corrugated sheeting leaving a few gaps.

Stage 6(Fig. 10)

Using the ½” square, mix a thicker/darker green using Lemon Yellow +French Ultramarine + Burnt Sienna.

With the thick paint on the brush we now need to form the ½” square in to a stipple brush, so, holding the brush vertical push it down onto a scrap of watercolour paper and twist it in a clockwise direction then in an anticlockwise direction. Now try stippling gently. If the patern does not look like leaves, press down again turning the brush until you have a good patern.

Now stipple the tree to the right and only some of the hedgerow.

Stage 6(Finished painting)

Pre mix the following

French Ultramarine+ Brown Madder plus a touch of Raw Sienna to make a dark purple mix that is greyed – 2 brushfulls

Raw Sienna – 2 brushfulls medium mix

Using a No 4 round brush, wet the white tree trunk and then drop in some Raw Sienna. While this is still wet, drop in the purple/grey mix on the left hand side of the trunk.

Finally indicate the branches with the No. 1 rigger.

I hope you have enjoyed this demonstration

You can view my paintings as well as Liz`s on our website or email us at