Another new book!

As if my book shelf was not already bursting at the seams, I have just bought Shirley Trevina's new book 'Breaking The Rules Of Watercolour'. I pre-ordered it from Amazon, so it was eagerly awaited, as she has been a great inspiration to me in the past. I have also been to a couple of her demonstrations at the craft fair at Patchings Farm in Nottinghamshire, and I found her a most charismatic speaker and demonstrator!

There is lots to read and look at, some old friends and lots of new work. I have thoroughly enjoyed my initial delve into the pages, but I do have a couple of comments.... I feel that some of the paintings are photoed just a tad too close for me, they take something away from the work, which I feel should be viewed from a bit of a distance to get the full effect, and her green work in France is not really to my taste. I hope she does not go too far along this route, and lose sight of the style of painting that I so much admire. That said the book is gloriously colourful and does exactly what it says on the jacket!

The arrival of the book reminded me of how complex some of her paintings are, especially the backgrounds, and what an amazing amount of resources she must have collected over the years. I thought I might have a go at something in her style! My attempts are far too tightly produced, I so wish I could get the hang of this free approach to watercolour, but instantly the subject is complex and contains lots of small elements everything tightens again. Must keep trying harder!

Here is the resultant painting, hope you enjoy looking.

                                                        'Spring Flowers'   Watercolour on
                                                        140lb Fabriano Artistico Extra
                                                                  White

I am pleased with the way in which all the weight is in the top part of the painting and the bottom left area fades away to very little. Will try that again, we so often do it the other way around. I do find yellow flowers difficult to get right, I think it is something to do with choosing what colour to use for the shadow areas. They so quickly look dirty.