One morning, a couple of weeks ago, I was sitting on the canal edge painting when this entourage drifted by. They came up from behind me and I had to drop the painting, brushes and palette and scramble around in my bag for the camera, all without upsetting the group. I crept along the bank taking a number of shots from which
I compiled this painting.
Other animal paintings are available on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
graham mcquade 
I love the way you’ve captured the movement of the water in this one.
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Thanks Jo. Doing it in stages helps. A tonal wash, light to dark and add stronger, wetter ripples whilst wet, this gives an gentle feeling of movement. Let it dry and then add the darker ripples over the top.
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Brilliant – I think I’ll have a go at your technique. I find painting water difficult. Thanks!
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I thought I saw one of your blogs where you did a complex painting/drawing of water very skilfully.
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I can draw the close up stuff – I treat it like I’m looking at glass – but what I struggle with is the medium distance with ripples on the water, just like in your swan picture. It just never looks right. Your method sounds clear though and I’m going to give it another try.
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Excellent Painting, I like how you handled the whites of the swan, and that you did not make it too bright. You got the downy feather texture very well.
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Thanks Shawn. The dark background allows a broad tonal range in the subject.
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