Monday 24 May 2010

VIEW OF THE CITY OIL PAINTING

I had decided to create another 16" x 16" box canvas piece for the Kings Lynn Summer Show in oils, but it wasn't until I was on our way back from Yarmouth with Sandra that I came across the very subject. VIEW OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FROM MOUSEHOLD HEATH early evening.
View of the City complete
(actually there is a little more of the foreground pathway and sky as I cropped this image to use for postcards being printed by Vista)
It all came about because our return to the city coincided with the outpouring of the Norwich football club fans after the last match of the season which meant they had won the cup. The main road was blocked and everything came to a stand still, so we headed off across country to approach the city further round and Sandra took me on a detour past the prison to see the view that just about every artist worth his salt living or visiting Norwich has painted, from Seago to Cotman I am sure!!

Well, above is my finished version and below an early stage of blocking showing more sky and pathway foreground area.

I was trying to consider what tones I would use to create the early evening light and it was only later when I realised my other works for the show had figures that I decided to add the loving couple seated on the bench. Hurrah for google images for some references of people proportions to the size of the bench.

Early blocking in stages, not really knowing where it will eventually lead me!!

6 comments:

Christiane Kingsley said...

Joan, you were certainly most successful in creating that soft early evening light. The couple was a great addition: the viewer feels he is looking at the scene with the eyes of the couple - it provides an additional sense of calm and serenity.

Anita Davies said...

Fantastic viewpoint and I love the colours you used for the city scene Joannie.
All those buildings...Well done!!!

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Thanks pals for your lovely comments. I used - believe it or not - brilliant pink and King blue with touches of raw sienna plus white, all in different mixes to create the smokey city view portion of the painting. Finally I added a glaze of a deeper blue mixed with white over the top. It was fun.

DJ said...

Joan, I love the early stage of the painting, also. That's a sign of real talent. Wonderful work.
I see you have some Asian spammers; this reminds me of my snowfall hacker = Beware! my friend...
Hugs 'cross the Pond~

DJ said...

Hi, Joan!
Hope all is well...haven't seen a new post in a few, so I'm checking on you.
Let us know...
DJ

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Thanks DJ for your concern. All is well, as you will see from the post I put up today.