Alan Reed's Watercolour Painting Blog

• 2010-09-01

  

  Alan Reed painting Grey Street

  

  View from Emerson Chambers

  

  Sketch Book Study

  What’s on the Drawing Board?

  Probably my favourite view of Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne is taken from Emerson Chambers. This morning I did a quick sketch book study of a view which I have painted many times before and which I have published as a limited edition print.

  This was in preparation for a demonstration I will be doing on Saturday 4th September on the 2nd floor of Emerson Chambers, the home of Waterstones the book shop. In this instance, the window ledge quickly became my drawing board as I worked rapidly to capture the hustle and bustle of a bright and sunny September morning. The sun was blasting in through the window, so the paint dried faster than usual which was helpful as the shadows were also going to be changing the composition in a short while.

  To see the work in progress and the final result, you will have to call in to Waterstones on Saturday and the Newcastle Gateshead Art Fair starting 1st October.

• 2010-08-31

  

  Casa Panfili

  

  Alan Reed painting on location

  

  Sketch book Study

  

  Studio Watercolour

  Sketch Book study of the Week

  In 2006 I was commissioned to do a watercolour of Casa Panfili, an Umbrian farmhouse with wonderful views over the Niccone Valley. The owners, Al and Betty Stuart wanted a painting that captured something of the beauty of the valley and the way Casa Panfili is very much a part of the rural landscape. It is a delightful area for walkers, artists, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and those who want to explore an area rich in history, food and wine.

  By the time we arrived in the early evening, having flown in to Pisa through Jet2, it was too dark to do any painting. I arose early the next morning to do a small sketch book watercolour of the sun rising above the autumn mist that hung gently below in the valley. 

  Once I was back in the studio, using the sketch and photographs, I did a 12” x 9” preparation watercolour for Al and Betty to approve before commencing on the final painting, a 21” x 14” watercolour which we also had printed into postcards for the guests at Casa Panfili.

• 2010-08-26

  

  Sketch of the Roman Baths

  

  Alan Reed painting the Roman Baths

  

  Studio painting of the Roman Baths

  Sketch Book Study of the Week

  It was great fun painting on location in Bath a couple of weekends ago. It has to be one of my favourite cities of all time. One of the highlights was being able to do the sketch book study seen above of the Roman Baths in the evening torchlight.

  Painting the soft green water reflecting the classical architecture was a delight which I had to capture again in the studio. I tried to retain the fluidity of the sketch book study in conjunction with reference photographs to create a small watercolour on a 14” x 10” Arches watercolour block that sums up a rather civilised evening in  Bath.

• 2010-08-16

  

  Great Pulteney Street, Bath

  

  Alan Reed painting on location

  

  Sketch Book Study

  

  12" x 9" Watercolour

  Weekend in Bath

  Last weekend, Susan and I went to Bath as I had been requested to do a watercolour of Great Pulteney Street. When we arrived, it was pouring down with rain which makes painting “plein air” in watercolour very difficult. I came prepared with my brolly and was able to find a suitable seat to paint from.

  Although Great Pulteney Street is a rather grand, impressive street with interesting architectural features at either end, because of the conditions, I decided to take advantage of the effects of the weather by making a feature of the figures sheltering under their umbrellas.

  There was a steady flow of willing, unsuspecting models who found their way into my small sketch book study and then larger 12” x 9” watercolour, both painted on location. By the time I had finished, the rain had stopped!

  “Plein air” is a French expression which means “in the open air”.

• 2010-08-13

  

  Sketch Book Study of the Week

  Although the day started rather dull, the weather did brighten up so we went to the beach at Wells-next-the-Sea. The tide goes out for what seems like miles but then comes in really quickly.

  Whilst the kids enjoyed ice creams, I did this rather more colourful sketch book watercolour of the beach huts which nestle under the protection of the surrounding trees. 

• →

  

  Sketch Book Study of the Week

  Last September I spent a very enjoyable week painting on location in Norfolk. Although the weather was a little cool for my wife’s liking it did stay dry. We decided to return in July for warmer temperatures. Unfortunately we experienced overcast days and rain for a couple of days, however I was still able to produce 8 sketch book studies and several larger pieces.

  This was my first of the week, an early morning study at Burnham Overy Staithe where we were staying, not far from the birth place of Admiral Horatio Nelson. He may well have learnt to sail in these waters. Today, the harbour is full of small sailing vessels. It was a rather dull, cloudy morning but still a delight to be out painting. More posts from Norfolk to follow. 

• 2010-07-10

  

  Alan Reed painting Dunstanburgh Castle

  

  Dunstanburgh Castle by Alan Reed

  

  Gavin Dowd Filming

  

  Sketch Book study by Alan Reed

  Painting on Location

  On Thursday evening I went up to Dunstanburgh Castle with Gavin Dowd of Word Out Productions who filmed me painting on location for a video which you can see later in the summer.

  Dunstanburgh is one of my favourite Northumbrian Castles, situated in a commanding position just North of the small fishing village Craster, famous for kippers.

  The weather was dry but a little dull. I adopted my usual technique of tackling two paintings. The first was a 12” x 9” watercolour painted on a block. The second, a smaller sketch book study. As each wash of colour was drying I would alternate between the two paintings.

  As you will see on the video, I made a major mistake on the sketch book study which I had to correct. Not easy to correct mistakes with watercolour. See if you can spot it before the video comes out.

• 2010-07-06

  

  Jabal Misht by Malcolm MacGregor

  

  Dolomites by Alan Reed

  • Sunrise on Jabal Misht by Malcolm MacGregor

    Malcolm MacGregor is a landscape photographer based in Scotland who specialises in photographing some of the more remote places in the world including Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Georgia, the Balkans and Oman.

    He recently held a much acclaimed exhibition of his photographs of the empty quarter of Oman at the Bait Muzna Gallery in old Muscat, Oman. The exhibition was titled ‘Mystical Oman’.  

    Malcolm says this about his photograph. “Jabal Misht is an iconic mountain in the Western Hajars of Northern Oman. It dominates the skyline for miles around with its distinctive sheer cliffs. This photograph was made on an extraordinarily clear morning as the sun slowly warmed the face of the mountain.

    The light was being held back by some cloud ensuring that the entire face had an even spread of light across it. There was also a bright reflectancy from the mountain so that one could feel the heat gaining intensity”. 

    To find out more about Malcolm’s outstanding photographs visit his website www.malcolmmacgregor.com 

    Seeing Malcolm’s photographs reminded me of a week Susan and I spent in the Dolomites, Italy back in 2006.  A dear friend of Susan’s called Nai lives in Venice, but during the summer she spends a month in her family home about an hours drive from Cortina. The scenery is breathtaking and inspired me to do 13 watercolours painted in a small leather bound sketch book purchased in Venice. This particular study shows the sun’s dying rays catching the tops of the mountains.

    We finished the trip staying at Nai’s home in Venice for another 3 days where I did a further 10 sketch book studies including the Venetian regatta. 

  • 2010-06-17

• 2010-07-01

  

  Morecambe Bay

  

  Midland Hotel

  Sketch Book Study of the Week

  A couple of weekends ago, Susan and I had a couple of days staying with our friends in Silverdale, Morecambe Bay. The view from the bay window is stunning whether your’e watching the tide come in or out, especially in the evening. This was the first of 4 sketch book studies painted in the morning.

  One must take care walking on the sand at low tide as there are areas of quicksand. When the tide does come in, it’s faster than a galloping horse.

  We also went to Morecambe itself and visited the recently renovated Art-Deco Midland Hotel, seen here painted from the beach. Some of these studies may well become larger studio works, so keep checking out my website for recent news.

• 2010-06-18

  

  Sketch Book Study of the Week

  I had an early start this morning to do a watercolour study of HMS Example before she sets sail tomorrow morning, leaving the Tyne. She has been berthed at HMS Calliope and is an Archer class patrol vessel of the Royal Navy.

  I’ve been commissioned to do a larger painting of the ship with the Millennium Bridge in the background. Unfortunately the sky was overcast today, so I will need to return in the morning. The forecast is good!