Venice. Watercolour.
This particlar scene has provided inspirations for countless artists over the centuries. One of thebiggest problems to overcome is the clutter of Gondolas and posts in theforeground. I overcame this problem by leaving most of them out. A limited palette gives a sense of atmosphere.
Watercolour.
When painting dramatic mountain scenery there is nothing quite like a rustic building in the foreground to emphasise the savage nature of the distant peak. Using warm colours in the foreground and cool colours on the distant features introduces a sense of recession and the stronger the contrast in tones the more distance is conveyed.
Pastel.
Paintings with a high horizon line can be quite dramatic, and keeping your buildings small and distant helps to reduce the problem of linear perspective. In order to give a sense of a late summer meadow full of wild flowers and dried grasses the distant seed heads were painted as a block of yellow and the closer foliage was painted in more detail.
France. Pastel.
The warm colour of the sandstone buildings with their red pantiled roofs and the unusual shapes of the towers in amongst the rustic buildings, all reflected in the Lot River was quite a complicated scene to render. Careful drawing and relating each building to it's neighbour was the key.
Course dates
16 May - 23 May 2009
David Bellamy specialises in painting wild mountain and coastal scenes, and is particularly fascinated by the moods of nature in the wild places. His paintings have reached private collections in many parts of the world. A full time artist and author, he has written eleven books illustrated with his paintings. The most recent, ‘Painting Wild Landscapes in Watercolour’ was published in 2005 by Harper Collins. He is currently working on another book, ‘David Bellamy’s Guide to Watercolour Painting’ due for publication in 2009 by Search Press.
Six instructional videos on watercolour painting by David have been produced by APV Films of Chipping Norton the latest of which ‘Wild Landscapes in Watercolour’ complements the above book. He has also produced two video diaries and two slide presentations on dvd. All the above publications are available from his website at www.davidbellamy.co.uk He runs watercolour painting courses in the UK and overseas and demonstrates to art societies.
Through his painting and writing he hopes to bring about a greater awareness of the threats to the natural environment, and he is particularly active in conserving the wild areas. He is a patron of the Marine Conservation Society’s Seas for Life Appeal. David regularly features on radio and television in both painting and conservation roles.
Course dates
16 May - 23 May 2009
Jenny Keal draws her main inspiration from the rich history of the landscape. Her special interest is in vernacular architecture and local culture, and she will explore the most remote places to locate an old farm or cottage set in wild scenery. The historical associations have a profound influence on her work. Her inspiration is also drawn from the atmospheric effects of the weather on the landscape, and the geology of mountains, valleys and coast. She frequently travels in the UK studying the similarities and differences in the local buildings styles and cultures.
As a keen gardener, Jenny also enjoys painting flamboyant flowers and foliage in pastel.
She and her husband, artist David Bellamy, travel to some of the most remote and inhospitable places of the world in search of spectacular scenery and cultural encounters, frequently taking painting groups with them on trekking and adventure trips.
Jenny’s book ‘Learn to Paint Landscapes in Pastel’ was published by Harpercollins in 2003 and her first instructional dvd ‘Painting Landscapes in Pastel, A Welsh Hill Farm’, was released in 2008. More information can be found at
www.davidbellamy.co.uk
