With the end of June came the end of the #30x30DirectWatercolor2018 challenge and here’s my humble contribution, first of all showing my full-size imperial sheet all masking taped up:
And secondly with the masking tape removed:
I really enjoyed participating in this exercise. I liked it especially because it’s made me spend a lot more time looking at and examining the sky than I normally do – which I think is a good thing for my painting, but also just for the sheer pleasure that can be had just from looking at the sky!
Has it made me more confident about painting skies? I think only time will tell. I’ve always enjoyed painting skies anyway but I’d like to think that these exercises will serve to broaden my range of approaches to painting skies.
Now I’m loathed to mention the genius of JMW Turner at the risk of, just by writing his name, I’m trying to sound like I’m making a comparison – which I’m absolutely not – however…
We took a trip to the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne on Sunday, unfortunately arriving some 3 weeks early for the annual Sussex Open Art Exhibition but we all had a lovely time nevertheless! Perusing the shop, I came across a delightful book that I’d not previously been aware of that is dedicated to Turner’s sky studies:
JMW Turner The ‘Skies’ Sketchbook is a Tate publication and, in the interest of balance, is also available at other major retailers! I resisted the temptation to purchase this, but it did make me think that these daily sky studies are so important, to both an understanding of light but also to the technical understanding and mastery of watercolour painting more broadly.
In other significant yet strangely anti-climactic news, the commission that I’ve been working on has officially come to an end! I recently shared the two paintings that I’ve produced with the client and they were able to make a decision quite quickly. I must confess that I’m mightily relieved about this as it was beginning to feel like a shadow hanging over me. Sadly, I have been sworn to secrecy on this project and won’t be able to reveal any more about it until sometime in September!
For now though, with the #30x30DirectWatercolor2018 challenge behind me – and a hopefully happy client – I can begin to look forward to a new adventure.
9 thoughts on “#30x30DirectWatercolor2018 – 30 Skies of June”
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Such a great idea! Wow! And wonderful pieced of art.
That is inspiering.
Thanks so much for this! So pleased you like the idea (please do help yourself to it!) and how it turned out – all much appreciated
How absolutely beautiful. Shows the many moods of the sky.
Thanks so much for this – I’m so pleased you like it!
I think your series of sky studies are all wonderful, well done John and I like the look of that little book of Turner’s sky studies…
Hi Evelyn and thanks so much for this – all much appreciated!
I really like the sky studies and it makes a very pleasing grid. Could be applied to other topics too?
Hi Louise – thanks for this and yes, this could be applied to so many things! I only did skies because I knew I was trying to paint one every day and the sky seemed something that would be easily accessible! I also like the idea of sea-scapes, or horizon lines – so many possibilities really!