Part 2 How to simplify your subject as you paint a busy harbour scene, with Colin Joyce

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

■ Simplify a busy harbour scene

■ Paint water and reflections

■ How to add a suggestion of texture in watercolour

Last month I suggested ways to think about interpreting your photographs to simplify the subject in front of you. Hopefully, you either created your version of my photograph or perhaps used one of your own. Better still, did you try working from your own on-site sketches?

I’d love to see what you’ve come up with. Please send an image to dawn@tapc.co.uk who will put it on the painting project area of LP’s website at www.painters-online.co.uk. Alternatively contact me via www.colinjoyceart.com or bring it along to the Patchings Festival in July, where you can visit my stand and show me in person. I’ll have my painting on show there, too.

I decided on afternoon light, coming from the left, to create shadow areas and boost contrast. Working from one of the thumbnail sketches and my photograph, I set about painting this in watercolour on Rough paper. I stretched the paper in a Keba Artmate Paper Stretcher, designed by my good friend Ben Haslam and available from some art materials suppliers including Ben (Tynedale Fine Art Products). They aren’t cheap, but very well made and make paper stretching quick and easy. Otherwise I just fasten my paper to a board using masking tape. LP