The Into the light collection of watercolour paintings are the fruits of a spring and summer spent painting en plein air in the landscape surrounding my home at Edstone.
I painted from life for this collection because all my attempts at painting this subject were stronger and felt right when painted directly from the subject.
Weather permitting, I would set off with my stretched watercolour paper on a wooden board to a spot at the top of the hill, just past the railway line.
The collection you see is made up of delightful variations of the view from the hill, with each painting depicting the landscape in a different light.
I spent a while just looking at the view and seeing what is visually important, and how space, tone and line will work within the composition and then I would begin painting.
Painting watercolours in this way is a synthesis between correct drawing, using colour wash or pencil lines on the one hand and more varied, expressive marks that distill the essence of the view.
All the works are completed after a number of painting sessions, revisiting the same spot to complete each painting.
Painting the light in the landscape is a lovely experience, particularly in the fluid medium of watercolour where you can use the natural beauty of the paper as pure light.
