Monday 17 November 2008

BOATHOUSES AND BOATS gesso and watercolour

I've been having a difficult time these past few days working on my third local landscape to pair with the Wells painting I recently posted. I felt it had to be another watercolour on gesso, but the first attempt seem to get all muddy (something I greatly dislike in a watercolour) and I was having trouble trying to make the sky plain and clean to offset the great deal of detail of the trees, river, boats and boathouses. I decided I didnt think it was good enough although by chance it has a sultry feeling of a storm coming.
click to enlarge

So I began all over again with a fresh piece of watercolour with a layer of gesso. This time the drawing came out different, as I had to keep to the same size painting as I already have the pair of gilt frames and double cream mounts. The river got wider, I only fitted in two boats and the boathouses needed to be bigger for where I had placed them. So in the end I didnt finish it!!!



Still not satisfied! So, yes you've guessed it -I started all over again. This time with a basic watercolour and no gesso. This time it turned out sunny. Shows we have no control over our work - it evolves all its own. !!!

click to enlarge

What I want to know is which do you prefer for me to put into my Christmas Show??? Can you be bothered to choose and let me know why - many thanks for those who do. I dont think I'll actually waste the effort as I can always keep the other finished one for a show next Spring.

I must be mad!!! yes??

10 comments:

RH Carpenter said...

Joan, I prefer the last one, pure watercolor. But it's because you've put more depth in it with the colors ranging darker to lighter than you did on the others. If you looked at it and did the same with the first one, you'd have another gessoed winner, too. And I like the sky in the first one - like it's just rained or is going to rain.

Lottery Girl said...

I like the third one best. Before I clicked on it, I thought it was because the sky is brighter. After I clicked on it, I discovered richer colors in the trees and in the foreground, making the mood brighter.

I do love the tree in the first watercolor that seems to be sparkling, if you will. Almost as though you've caught those leaves as they are about to fall.

Claudia said...

...a difficult task! I think I would choose the last one, because it is a crisp, classic watercolour; although the gessoed one has a very nice sky (like Rhonda already said), but the trees are so beautiful in the last one. Hope this helps you finding your decision!

carol said...

Joanie, I love the last one too. The colours are so fresh and vibrant.
Thanks for your help.
Carol

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Thankyou ladies. I think we can say thats unanimous!!?? I'll pop in into the frame in the morning.

caseytoussaint said...

I'm a little late to vote, but I approve your decision. I like the sunny version best.

Robert A Vollrath said...

What everyone else said. Sorry I'm not here more often it's just I'm soooo busy right now.

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Casey and Robert - Thanks for taking trouble to vote.

Anonymous said...

Hi, my first visit via Sharon. I live in Suffolk and arn't we having lovely weather!! Got your thermals on? I like this one cos my daughter lives on a narrow boat and has been asking me to paint her boat for ages. I know how difficult they are. Will follow your blog now.

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Nice to meet you Carolann and find you leave so near. Ive left longer comment on your blog. When you going to do the narrowboat then????