Still carrying a Knife

The last post had me wielding a painting knife for the first time in anger, trying out block exercises in the hope of improving my colour seeing. However the real test for me is applying new techniques to my usual subject matter, that is the landscape. So I would have a go at a small piece at one of my favourite little spots, a quarry not far from home.

This was a very testing exercise, trying to remember a whole new set of processes (outlined in the last post) and at the same time practising my full colour seeing and remembering to balance my values. As you can imagine I feel that the result is something of a curate's egg, good in places and weaker in others. What is not a disappointment is the vibrancy of colour that this approach creates. There are passages that shout light in a way that much of my work does not. This gives me great encouragement to persist with the approach and continue to work at my skill level with the knife. Do you think I'm right?

I've posted a photograph of the scene that is painted.



Wingate Quarry - Oil on canvas board 12" x 10"