Category Archives: Durham

A BEND IN THE WEAR – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

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This is a view I’ve presented before, but wasn’t too pleased with the execution. So I’m having another go: trying to get the smoky haze of a summer’s day. I also wanted a simplified foreground which pushes the focus on the deep ravine of the River Wear in Durham.

Most of the sky and background were done wet in wet so I lost control of the forms. I was able to do a bit of shaping when I added more darks to the bottom of the far trees and flattened the waterline. It has made me relook at some other river paintings. I thought I had better warn you.

Other landscapes and river scenes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

THE WEAR ROLLS SEAWARD – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

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Last week I was in Durham and was able to get outside painting on a couple of warm and sunny days. However, the painting above was done at home. I had spotted the subject whilst sketching the dead tree beside the river, below – in fact this view above was behind me as I sketched, but getting the filigree foliage against a smoky forest backdrop needed a bit of thinking through, so I declined the challenge and painted this instead.

In hindsight I should have given it a go. Still, it was good to have an unexpected chance to get outside. The day before I sat and sketched the city skyline into the light.

This was again done on the banks of the River Wear with a curious bull snorting near my back from the field behind me. Fortunately the seemingly flimsy barbed wire fence did the trick and I survived to paint another day as this blog and my final sketch: looking up the hill to the other side of the river – testifies.

Other landscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

DURHAM CATHEDRAL FROM OWENGATE – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

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I posted a very similar painting a few months back. It was one I did mainly for my own amusement, but I included it in a group of paintings I submitted to  someone who wanted to commission a view of Durham Cathedral. To my surprise they picked the earlier, portrait, version of this but wanted it in a landscape format – to fit the available space. As the lane winding up to the Cathedral is narrow and the towers hang over and dominate the scene it rather fits a portrait format, but anyway…. I managed to fill the space by including more of the Cathedral tower, a scattering of people  and expanding the buildings on the left and right – thank goodness for Google. It might be a bit of a confection, but they seem happy with it, although there are a few things I might touch up before framing and dispatching.

Other townscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com 

EVENING STROLL 2 – PASTEL PAINTING

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This is a modified painting which  I posted some time ago. When I first posted it I had some reservations about certain aspects. Then, the other day as I was searching through some old paintings, I came across it again and took a moment to reconsidered it and realised that my issues could be addressed. One problem was the central tree which I modified and then I enhanced the main field and strengthened the top field. It may have moved away from the original scene, but it was a bit of a combination of views in the first place, broadly based on the Wear Valley in Durham City.

Other landscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart

DURHAM CATHEDRAL – WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS

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I was asked to do picture of Durham Cathedral or some other Durham church related topic. The request was vague and remained so despite my probing for more direction. I know from old, that my interpretations can be way off the mark than what is swimming around in someone else’s head. Well, I did my best. I showed one painting of the cathedral in  an earlier blog, but that was really done for my own pleasure as I liked the lighting. But you never know it may suffice. Here are another two.

I’ll present these three and see how far off the mark I am. If I present another painting of a Durham subject in the near future, you’ll know I missed. It’s like playing battleships – on half imperial sheets.

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Other city and townscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

TOWARDS THE CATHEDRAL – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

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I went to Durham last week to visit family and also to have a look around in order to paint a city scene for one of the new rooms they have added to their house. I thought that they knew what they wanted, but it was very apparent that they didn’t. We walked around the city rather aimlessly looking for scenes, mainly of the cathedral.

As I approached the cathedral close I saw the light cutting across the courtyard and with the figures coming towards me I thought that here was a great scene. Though I don’t think that they will like it, but it caught my eye and here it is.

Later, as we were passing their church, which is on the bank opposite the cathedral, the light was catching the building. Later my sister in law said she liked that view, so off I went to check it out. Unfortunately when I got there the light had changed and it looked rather flat.

So I didn’t get many images to work off. Looks like this one will be a long time in the making.

Other townscapes are available on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

 

EVENING STROLL – PASTEL PAINTING

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This was an image from my recent trip to Durham. We walked  along the River Wear in the sunny evenings which was useful for me to spot potential places to paint in the mornings.

The low sun lit up the early summer greens allowing for some great counter changes of tone.

Other pastel landscapes are available on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com