I liked the dark background behind the sunlit fields and path and the way the light was reflecting off the tops of the trees. I tried a block approach, using square brushes, but in hindsight should have primed the paper with a strong undertone. I might then have got a bit of vivacity with the primer showing through, complementing the rough approach.
Other landscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
I was thinking of getting my oils out for this one but decided that first I might just sketch it out in pastels, and here is the result. I certainly like the lost and found edges lending an air of mystery to the piece and the way the land dissolves into the atmosphere.
I took it from a couple of photos combing the best bits although I am a little unsure of the darkness that pervades the bulk of the image even though, as I keep telling myself, this is necessary to state the highlights.
Other landscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
When I was abroad I received a commission to paint a cottage in Cartmel which is in the English Lake District in Cumbria. It will be for a present. The cottage seems to be an old mill, set beside the village stream. On drawing it I realised that there was no symmetry in this building. The photo I received is rather flat and taken in winter, so I have added some colour and put the leaves back on the trees.
Being away on the run-up to Christmas has caused me to miss some of the exhibitions around here. I managed to get my framer, Glynn, to hold his window for me so at least I got some paintings out before Christmas ( but only just). I have restricted it to landscapes of the area around us and called it ‘ Behind the Dunes’ as we have a very sandy beach around here. I forgot my camera when I set it up but here is an image from last year – apologies for the quality and my bike getting into the frame.
Thanks to Glynn at Ges Bur Studios, Southport for the space.
Other landscapes for sale are available on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
I suppose I wanted to slop some paint around and do a simple landscape and the brooding layers of hills around Borrowdale seemed a good candidate. I had some photos taken from afar so there might be some topographical errors here, but I hope I’m not too far out and anyway the paint had a mind of its own as you know. I had envisioned a more brooding skyscape and it seemed ok when it was wet… . Same old story.
The scene does seem to pose a threat but walking along the banks of the Derwent, in decent weather, as it flows through Borrowdale for me is a calming and serene experience. Well worth the drive up the M6.
Other paintings of the Lake District are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
This is a view of Derwentwater, in the English Lake District, looking over to Castle Crag and Borrowdale. I wanted to play around with texture so included the rocks in the foreground. I love the range of hills which loom up behind Derwentwater with their ever changing colours and tones as the sun marches around the sky.
Other landscapes of the lake district are available on my website grahammcquadefineart.com
I had an image of a lake but I wanted to add something in the foreground which would complement the mood. A fellow blogger Richard Baker on wordpress.bakercake35.com had some great shots of Wastwater and there was one with some rocks in the water. I realised that I could use a similar motif. With some rocks leading the eye into the water, they could also echo the shapes of the hillside and I could maintain the colour balance.
I was pleased with the simplicity of the piece.
Other landscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
Walking back from Bowness to Waterhead in Ambleside along the side of Wansfell Pike recently, I could see the rain coming in off the sea and making its way towards Windermere and me. I have been thinking of doing this in oils and thought a sketch in pastels might be worthwhile first.
I love the patches of illuminated country picked out against the formless gloom and the way landforms are lost and found in the low cloud.
Other Lake District paintings are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
