Southampton Common tree by path in Autumn - WIP stages

Southampton Common tree by path in Autumn - WIP stages

Stages of a painting of a tree at the entrance to Southampton city common.

A tree in Autumn features in this seasonal landscape study. The tree is one to be found within Southampton Common, Hampshire, near to the entrance.

Shown in the picture above are four stages of the painting. In the first, the basic scene has been drawn out in brown acrylics on a yellow ochre flat colour, also done in acrylics. A basic indication of shading has been added. The second panel has some colour added in the way of a wash of diluted oil colour, used to indicate areas of colour and tone. These are not the final painted colours for now, and are left to dry. Moving on to the 3^rd panel it can be seen that paint has been applied heavier on to the painting, over the previous, dried layers. These colours are now truer to the intended tone and the painting has become more detailed in these areas. The final panel shows the completed work, with all the final layer of paint applied. A additional stage was to give most of the painting a 'glaze', which is where a further level is applied in the form of translucent colours mixed with a clear painting medium. It is similar to stained glass, though not as strong, but this helps to enhance the colours when seen by the human eye as light travels through the extra layer, hits the underlying area and bounces back. A camera does not see this effect however when a photograph is taken.

On other point of interest is that the support (canvas) is home made. This is to say that un-primed canvas material was purchased from a fabric shop and then fixed to a wooden stretcher bar, home made from scraps of wood. Once the canvas was stretched tight over the wooden stretcher bar, it was primed ready for painting. It was found that the painting surface was quite smooth.

The painting can be seen in greater detail by following this link.

Southampton Common tree by path in Autumn - oil painting

Southampton Common tree by path in Autumn -  oil painting

Completed artwork of tres at the entrance to the common.

An Autumnal scene is pictured in this scene on Southampton Common, painted during September 2019. The tree is near to the entrance of the common, and has been recognised in this painting. It is the early part of the season so some trees are still green, whereas others have already lost their leaves. Other trees display golden leaves, still clinging on to the branches.

The painting measures 14” x 13”, so is quite smaller than usual, and is done in oil paint on a home made canvas (cotton primed and attached to a home made wooded support frame).

It can be seen in greater detail by following this link.

Line of trees in Hampshire during Autumn - oil painting

Line of trees in Hampshire during Autumn - oil painting

Oil painting of Autumn trees in Hampshire

During September 2018 this oil painting was created, main as an exercise in [painting trees in a simpler (impressionistic) way, rather than falling in to the trap of painting each individual leaf and branch. Oil paint on a board, which was sized at 20” x 16” was used. The subject was based on a photograph taken a number of years previously, just with the intention of finding a way to painting trees in a quicker and 'slicker' way.

The finished painting can be seen here.

Line Of Trees In Hampshire During Autumn - WIP stages

Line Of Trees In Hampshire During Autumn - WIP stages

WIP stages - Line Of Trees In Hampshire During Autumn

This painting was completed during September 2018 and shows a line up of trees in an field in the county of Hampshire, UK. It is based on a photograph taken some years previously, with the intention of using it to practice painting trees, but it has taken all this time to actually do it. Trees can be very difficult to do because of their complex construction, with all of the separate leaves and fine branches, but it is a pain recreating these items, although some artists do sit and paint every detail.
I wanted to find a way of showing the detail in a more broad and 'impressionistic' way, and not have to take ages painting the subject. As an experiment it was an interesting adventure and I got something out of it which I can put in to new paintings.
The artwork is done in oils, so drying time is also a factor in the painting process. The first panel shows the tonal drawing done in acrylic paint, with the second showing a diluted first layer of oil paint. Detail is added once the previous layer is dried as seen in the third panel, while the forth shows the completed painting, which is done on mounting board sized at 20" x 16".
The painting can be seen in detail on this link.

Southampton Cenotaph Autumn - oil painting

Southampton Cenotaph Autumn - oil painting

Southampton Cenotaph Autumn - oil painting

During September 2017 this painting was created, depicting the Cenotaph in Watts Park, central Southampton. The aim of the painting was to show visually the season of the autumn, so recently laid poppy wreaths are shown on the monument, as well as the more obvious golden leaves on the ground on a crisp, sunny but chilly day.

The monument was designed by Edwin Lutyens, who used this as a test bed for the Whitehall Cenotaph in London, and which was in tun was used for many such Cenotaphs around the world. It is grade 1 listed.

This painting measures 28” x 20” and is painted, in oils, on mounting board. The under-painting was done in acrylic paint.

The artwork can be seen in more detail on this link.

 

 

Feeding the Ducks at Southampton Common

Feeding the Ducks at Southampton Common

This painting show the duck pond, known as Cemetery Lake, at Southampton Common, near to the Cemetery. The time of the year is late autumn and a young family can be seen feeding the ducks at the pond during a late afternoon. Seagulls and other birds are are also spotted here.

The painting was created in oils using a 'wet into wet' technique, and is sized at 16”x 20”. It was painted during late 2013.

Feeding the Ducks at Southampton Common

http://martin-davey.artistwebsites.com/featured/feeding-the-ducks-at-southampton-common-martin-davey.html

http://www.redbubble.com/people/martyee/works/11798832-feeding-the-ducks-at-southampton-common

 

Spirit of Autumn Woman

Spirit of Autumn Woman

This digital painting was created in Photoshop during December 2013. It depicts a pretty woman, her reflecting the colours of Autumn, in an Autumn landscape. The picture layout is slightly dreamy in aspiration and has stylised leaves and trees. The woman, and her sweeping movement and flowing energy is echoed in the composition and she is almost a part of the scene herself, becoming the spirit of autumn.

Spirit of Autumn Woman