RBSA Demonstration

A couple of Saturdays ago it was my turn to do a painting demonstration at the RBSA.  I decided to take my acrylics - Brian Fletcher had asked me to paint the subject of boats so I chose an image which was quite a grainy photo of 3 boats against a lovely blue sky, discovered recently and a distant memory of a wonderful holiday in Northumberland.  Demonstrations are always a bit unpredictable - I'm never sure whether anyone will come or how they will react if they do come, and then there is always the uncertainty of how the picture will develop!

Well, one of my models, Mel and her friends from Nuneaton arrived which was lovely and, along with several other people, the day turned out to be really enjoyable.  It's a nice opportunity to share some ideas and in a way it's strangely helpful to discuss what I am doing, or think I should be doing! as a painting develops.

Thanks to Mel we have some photos of the progress.  I should also say thank you to Dveirel, a steward on duty at the RBSA that day, who was very enthusiastic and supportive.

I worked on a canvas board which I had prepared with a roughly painted wash of acrylic and I used a large brush to draw in the shapes.  The majority of the picture was developed with brush and then someone asked about palette knives - a perfect prompt to sort out some of the angles that were getting a bit woolly.  I suppose I spent an hour and a half working on the painting and then I began another subject during the afternoon - an absence of photographers around then, so no record of that one. 
Curiously I have begun to work on the boats again today, very tempted to use some oil but I find the dribbly washes I can achieve with acrylic less easy with oil. 
Maybe there will be a follow up on its progress in time.