Oil or Water? Painting Techniques

In my opinion there is only one way to paint one of our English Skies. The medium must be Water Colour. When I'm asked how long did it take to paint that sky? the truthful answer is about ten minutes, the smart answer could be thirty years. Just as we write our signature in a flourish I think water colours should done and left.

A closer look at the forground on this painting 'Rag  and Bone man, Nelson', shows

single brush strokes, get it wrong and and its not as effective

The stonework however was done wet in wet,

and could take some time

In complete contrast, is this detail from my picture 'Sarlat-la-Caneda', reflecting I hope, the  hot

colours of France. This is an oil painting, with thick buttery paint

applied with a painting knife

The last of the mediums I have used is 'Pen and Wash'. Allied to watercolour,

the image is drafted out (in my case) in waterproof Indian ink, drawn

with a reed pen. The pen can be made from a piece of cane, which is

sharpened to a point. The effect is an attractive irregular line,

hopfully seen on this close up of the fishing boat

This water colour 'A Beach in Donegal' is a subject that is particularly

suitable for water colour. The dry brush work on the breaking

waves takes us back to the 'one stroke flourish'. I spoke of

at the start. The white bits are the untouched paper,

I never use white paint, truly transparent

Water Colour