A remembered sky from a far too infrequent trip to the Pyrenees (they’re only an hour from home), a breeze sending clouds skywards in the early evening light. I like the atmosphere of this – the light pooling on the landscape, the hazy mountains receding into the distance. I think the land is more successful than some of my earlier paintings, and I like the sweep of couds against the darkening sky and the texture of the sky. But….I’m not convinced by the tonal qualities of the main clouds, I still struggle with this ( must spend a week just mixing colours & playing), and I still feel I’m timid with brush marks & quantity of paint for the big clouds where I think it needs to be bolder. It doesn’t quite have the fullness & luciousness that I’d like…hope you understand that?
A remembered sky from a far too infrequent trip to the Pyrenees (they’re only an hour from home), a breeze sending clouds skywards in the early evening light. I like the atmosphere of this – the light pooling on the landscape, the hazy mountains receding into the distance. I think the land is more successful than some of my earlier paintings, and I like the sweep of couds against the darkening sky and the texture of the sky. But….I’m not convinced by the tonal qualities of the main clouds, I still struggle with this ( must spend a week just mixing colours & playing), and I still feel I’m timid with brush marks & quantity of paint for the big clouds where I think it needs to be bolder. It doesn’t quite have the fullness & luciousness that I’d like…hope you understand that?
Louise Balaam - Monthly Landscape Painting
Louise, thank you for your really helpful comments – as ever. This one is on a paper as a play piece, so I’ll head back into the sky having mixed up the cooler greys you suggest – it needs that! I
I love your description of the landscape Karen and also your very perceptive analytical comments. I agree that the land is working very well, the tones help give a sense of receding space. I think you’re right that the sky needs more of a range of colours, maybe some cool greys to complement the warm ochre tones. In terms of the boldness of the brushwork and using plenty of paint, all I can say is that you’re not alone, it took me ages to do that. You just have to keep pushing yourself I think. This painting has a lovely feeling of light and of the clouds rising