You should always have a sketchbook in your back pocket because. . .
This is the finished print of Norham Castle. All of the weather and light that I experienced there has been squeezed into the print. Using the sketches as a visual guide and memory to revive the sense of place.
'Norham Castle in Winter'. January 2011.
Aluminium drypoint.
1. I work in the landscape, never from photographs. This is the first tiny watercolour (half postcard) of Norham. Initially suprised at how pink the stonework was. Wonderful heavy grey sky and shafts of sunlight. February 2010.
2. Later the same month equally heavy weather but again stunning shafts of light that Turner would have loved. Windy weather making the clouds scoot across the sky. February 2010.
3. A year later just before sunset with clouds like golden bricks in the sky behind me. Beautiful weather to work in but limits on time (light fading fast) just a quick watercolour to catch the contrast & colour.
4. Drypoint on aluminium plate, line cut with a scalpel. Picture kept as simple as possible.
7. First unsuccessful attempt at applying colour to the plate. Colour applied with a roller. Pink, white and blue to reflect the sunset seen just the week before.
8. Using the drypoint line I added watercolour, pastel and pen to make the image more atmospheric. I then applied this way of working to the 'Norham Castle in Winter' print.
9. A week later I revisited Norham castle to re-evaluate the previous work. This piece is an A5 watercolour.
10. Acrylic on canvas 50cm x 60cm. Painted in the studio using previous information. Emphasing colour and contrast - the local stone is pink.
11. Acrylic on canvas 50cm x 60cm. A simplified version of the previous painting with compositional changes and abstraction.
12. A1 pen and ink drawn in the landscape with watercolour added in the studio. A van was in my usual viewpoint. So I shifted position to find I had a more dynamic view.
