The Newsagents
Watercolour
7 x 11 inches
Just because it's December and a bit too wet and blowy to stand outdoors and paint with watercolours, doesn't mean you can't do anything.
Rain can be a little bit too much of a good thing for a watercolour unless you have some cover and the danger is you end up with all the paint on the floor and nothing on the paper.
Sitting in a vehicle is a good option. You soon get used to the cramp, and anyway it's the painting that matters, but it's a good idea to keep it small. If you really find it too uncomfortable then make a number of pen or pencil sketches in a sketchbook adding in some idea of the tonal values, and even writing notes about the view in front of you and how you feel about it.. A back up photo can be useful.
The figures in 'The Newsagents' weren't actually all there at the same time, but jotted down on a sketchbook page and placed where I hoped they would help to tell the story. All the information was then gathered together and painted at home.
Grey days can be as interesting to paint as any other weather conditions.
