STEPHEN FOSTER DEMONSTRATION IN OCTOBER

 Stephen's painting philosophy is to "take a simple idea and simplify it". His compositions were quickly laid out with a few soft charcoal marks. He said that it's "not about the subject matter, it's how you attack the canvas".

Stephen painted two pictures of sunlight on water for us on primed 3mm MDF board. The first one was in acrylics using a No.6 knife from Hobbycraft (see photo). He used liquid Schmincke Akademie Akryl paints.

He works very quickly and loosely, laying down a colour and then working other colours into it. This results in subtle colours and many shades of grey with very little definition. He urged us to apply the paint with spontaneous gestures and then leave it alone. 

Stephen's second painting was in oils. He likes to cover the support with a layer of linseed oil and apply the paint without any solvent. He said that sunlight on water is a popular subject and that he is more likely to sell a painting if it was painted quickly! Painting should not be hard work.

Our thanks to Stephen for an inspiring evening. See his website for more information:

https://www.stephenjfoster.com/Home.html