Next Demonstration Evening
Lynne Appleby will speak on tonal values in various mediums
on Wednesday 22nd July . Also entry
forms for the Summer Exhibition should be returned.
Adventurous Artists
Next adventure will be to Minstead on 15th July meeting at
the Trusty Servant at 19-30. ( SN43 7FY) Bring a sketchbook and drawing
implements.
AN EVENING WITH MELVYN GATES.
A scene at Keyhaven with boats and the Harbourmaster's
Office was the subject of Melvyn's painting at our last meeting. He started by
sketching an outline of the boats and buildings on a sheet of Arches Rough
watercolour paper. He then laid washes of mainly cobalt blue with a base of
crimson in the sky area using a 1" squirrel hair mop. To soften the clouds
he used a clean wet brush and took out the hard edges. The upper part of the
sky was then darkened with deeper cobalt blue.
The water was painted with cobalt and viridian and the
distant Isle of Wight with cobalt, alizarin
crimson and yellow ochre bringing the yellow down onto the shingle beach. These
colours were also used individually on the boats and buildings and mixed to
produce greys used for shadows.
Melvyn thinks that colour temperature is important
particularly with regard to greys and plays a part in the way the painting is
viewed.
The shapes in the picture were strengthened by adding
shadows in greys of varying depths and colour mixes. The shadows on the boats
are deepest on the stern and under the keel and highlights - important in the
windows - are left as white. Difference in tones of grey as well as colour give
texture to walls.
After darkening the sea in the foreground and adding details
such as boat supports Melvyn took a final look at the darks to see if they
needed deepening to bring the picture together.
Four or five colours
are the usual number for Melvyn to use in his paintings. He also tends to "break
the rules" - a sentiment with which we all agreed!
Melvyn currently has an exhibition running - the first for
many years - at Artsway, Station
Road
 Finished painting |
 |
| Half-way stage. |
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