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On The Easel 4
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oil
paintings
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| Oil Painting Demonstration
by Martin Ridley |
Paintings in progress
- a chance to preview my very latest bird images. Observe an oil painting
demonstration. View how a painting of barnacle geese evolves from the
initial pencil drawings through to completion.
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The
barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) is a small goose with a distinctive conspicuous
white or cream-coloured cheek patch. There are two other species of black
geese native to Europe: the brent goose (Branta bernicla) and the red-breasted
goose Branta ruficollis). Here in the U.K. the canada goose (Branta canadensis)
is an introduced species.
Winter flocks of barnacle geese can be seen on coastal grassland and salt
marshes at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Caerlaverock Centre on the Solway
Firth near Dumfries
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Barnacle Geese on the
Solway
Here are the beginnings of another
painting demonstration |
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| You are
in page: |
1
2
3
4 of
Barnacle Geese |
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Graphite pencil drawing |
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Creating a strong composition of flocking geese
The painting is dependant on a composition
that conveys directional movement with a certain amount of random
positioning and yet maintains an aesthetic balance within the area
of the painting.
The larger the birds the more exactly they need to be positioned.
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I have added smaller geese in the background to
give the painting more depth and convey the feeling of a larger flock |
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This demonstration shows how I develop the design
for a painting using pencil drawings of the geese on separate pieces
of paper. The composition is evolved quickly by trying them in lots
of different arrangements. |
Barnacle Geese on the
Solway (Branta leucopsis)
Pencil drawing and cut paper
layout 19 x 34 inches
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Ample
amounts of paint are mixed and I use a large brush to block in the
sky quickly. I dilute the oils to a creamy consistency and cover the
area in lots of slippery paint. |
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I plan to recreate
a misty landscape, bright from the left with the hills just visible
as a mist lifts from the hollows.
I deliberately
camped at the WWT Caelaverock Centre so that I could get up early
each morning and be out on the reserve experiencing the dawn atmospheres.
I link the sky
with the wet mud and estuary pools while I have the same colours
on the go.
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Viewed through
the mist the background needs to be subtle with limited contrast
and definition. Where the salt marsh meets the hills, and the hills
the sky, the dividing lines are readily softened using the wet paint.
Any lumps of paint are smoothed and I lightly dab a softening brush
all over the sky, hills and distant marsh. I begin with the lightest
areas of paint and rub any excess from the brush as I progress.
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Adding detail
and greater contrast to the foreground increases the depth of the
landscape.
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Barnacle Geese on the
Solway
(detail from the painting
in progress) |
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Having now
blocked in the whole landscape the arial perspective is starting
to work nicely. All I need are some geese in flight.
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Barnacle Geese on the
Solway (Branta leucopsis) |
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In
the end I decided against having the landing geese in the foreground.
The atmospheric landscape created a wonderful feeling of space
and it seemed a shame to obscure much of it with the birds.
I think that my compositional idea would work better on a larger
area where the design would be less cramped (see my original
plan below).
As you can
see I spend a considerable amount of time planning my paintings.
However nothing is fixed and I continually evaluate my progress
sometimes changing direction completely if I deem it necessary. |
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| You are
in page: |
1
2
3
4 of
Barnacle Geese |
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| Previously
featured in "ON THE EASEL" |
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Martin
Ridley, Rossal, The Ross, Comrie, Crieff
Perthshire, Scotland PH6 2JU
Telephone: International +44 1764 670 695
UK 01764 670 695
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