Thursday 17 February 2011

Green Fields and Canals


Coloured pencil over a watercolour base.   This is a small drawing that I have been working on from a photograph I took in the UK ....we don't have  green like that or canal boats in Sicily!
I like how the background turned out, but I really don't like the front of the narrow boat at all.  The problem is the watercolour paper I used started to disintegrate when I tried to erase, so it will have to stay like that now.

22 comments:

Pelusa said...

Bad papers can be very frustating and art perception is so particular, but I like your painting really much. It looks so quiet over there! Like a dream place.
I think I'm going to start sketching from some of my journey's photos too. Thanks for inspire me!

Elena (Pelusa)
http://sketchbookdelapelusa.blogspot.com/

nanke's stuff said...

I think it's a lovely little study. I really like the softness of the colors. The background is especially nice, and I really like the reflections, too. nancy

martinepittet said...

Good for you to leave it as it is since it's lovely . I often tend to "overdo" things when I want to make my sketch or painting "right" but somebody suggested letting go for a while and then I would like it better ... that person was right !!!!

Anonymous said...

What a peaceful image - I thought it didn't look like Sicilian countryside!

Vicki Holdwick said...

Cathy,

I really like the background. I am a big fan of pastoral scenes.

I really can't find anything wrong with the boat and the shadows and water look very nice.

xoxo

Gillian Mowbray said...

Oh - what a lovely summery scene - sigh ....

We're always at the mercy of different papers, aren't we, but your problem is certainly not apparent. x

Sandra Busby said...

This is such a lovely summery scene! I like the idea of using pencils over watercolour - I'd like to try that :0)

Lynn said...

It evokes summer for sure with all those lovely vibrant greens. I like it a lot.

Anonymous said...

I can just imagine pottering along the canal in the boat!!

Anonymous said...

That's lovely! Even with whatever you mention is "not right". I don't see it:)Makes me want to travel there!

Janene said...

This is such a peaceful painting. I notice that the boat invites my eye into the scene but then the composition strongly directs my attention along the canal to the lovely pastoral scene in the background. Whatever you don't like about the boat is not obvious to me, but because of the composition, the boat is not the focal point anyway, imo.

Pat said...

Lovely piece - did it make you feel maudlin for England?

Alex said...

This is just lovely Cathy! Something about your drawings that just able to attract the audience and bring the viewers straight to the place you're drawing. This is not an exception either =)

Ann said...

It looks wonderful to me! I have yet to be successful with watercolor under cp on paper. Your results look so soft and luminous.

Barbara B said...

It's just beautiful. So calm and serene. I think the green is lovely and so is the reflection. I hate it when the paper doesn't cooperate!

Unknown said...

If it wasn't for your comment about the front of the boat I wouldn't have looked at it as it seemed fine.

I hate how papers degrade too, it was one of the problems I had with the window and it can be very frustrating.

Unknown said...

Oh yes, I've had this experience a couple of times now! It is so frustrating! I think you made the best of it though!

Anonymous said...

I like the scene, colours and the boat. I wish we could made an English canal journey with your boat.

On papers, I read Stonehenge is the most favourite CP paper at the moment. Have you used it already? I haven't yet, but I hopefully will.

Paula

Meltem Sozer said...

Lovely. The medium you are using turns out really vibrant colors.

jill said...

I wish I could blame all my drawings on bad paper but yours is lovely and I cant see a problem with it. Did you go on the canal boat, We often say we will live on one when we retire but I need a holiday on one first

Cathy Holtom said...

Jill - I didn't go on this one, but I used to vist an old fella who lived on one. I've always fancied the idea too!

Lucia B. said...

A lovely work! I like so much the reflections on the water and the beautiful green of the grass!