A colour sketch of Llyn Brianne in preparation for a much larger piece. The sketch was done in acrylic, but then I changed my mind and started the full-sized piece in oils.
A 4x6" colour sketch of Amroth Beach, Pembrokeshire in preparation for a much larger piece. The light that day was gorgeous, but the level of detail in the distance really could do with a larger canvas to make the most of it.
A 4x6" colour sketch of Sgwyd Gwladys in preparation for a much larger piece. Sgwyd Gwladys is a beautiful waterfall - one of many on the Neath 'Waterfall Country' walking route starting in Pontneddfechan.
In late 2018, I started trying to be a bit more playful with art and experiment. This was a quick watercolour sketch I did. I'd like to revisit this one as a full watercolour painting.
My first venture into artist grade colouring pencils - and I'm smitten! I never thought I could achieve such boldness and blendability with them! I'm still getting used to them and will think about choosing smoother paper with less tooth next time. The texture and weight was more for the water-based gouache along with alcohol inks (which are very unforgiving to even primed heavy paper!). Apologies for the unevenness of lighting between the 2 sides of paper; will correct that when I'm making proper image files.
I got a pack of loose watercolour paper from eBay in 2018. The side this was painted on had a really strange pitted texture on it. I thought it might be interesting but I didn't like the way the paint gathered in the pits. I just use it for sketching and testing colours these days.
Daler Rowney and Winsor Newton do a watercolour called Sepia. I absolutely love the tone of the Rowney one and had a play with it here. I'd really like to do a proper sepia painting some day.
New Quay is a quaint little seaside town on the Ceredigion coast. This was my second attempt at pen and wash in 2018 and it totally bombed. I'm not sure there's anything I like about this - the colours, the linework, the lack of texture. Nah! Definitely worth trying again at some point.
Looking at Trichrug hill from the top of Pen Arthur Forest. This was my first attempt at pen and wash in 2018. I was pleased with it for an initial effort. I struggle to be loose with my art, so this was a step forward. The only thing that really bugs me was my colour choice for the distant hills - it looks more like the sea.
When the heart’s hurting,
their smile’s comforting,
as they nurture from my giving
and remember this soul,relieving
me of my impending scars
and to recover what’s ours.
-elixir-
It's hard to escape emotions. The normal part of life is to be braver when you're depressed. It's like the trapped pigeons. Up in the clouds, longing for freedom.
I like imagining static objects having human feelings and expressions. This little plumb one is telling me its emotion of the moment, perhaps contemplative sadness? Waiting for its time to shine?
