Well, the painting is finished, and turned out better than I thought. I dulled down the roof of the lychgate as one critic advised. It had come far too forward, so I scraped it back, and added grey violet which has pushed the image back into the middle distance.
I lifted the paint off the foreground figures and let that dry. I painted shadows in first with dark grey violet, and let that dry hard. I finished them with their local colour, and they turned out well enough. It is possible to correct mistakes in watercolour sometimes
I added shadows cast by the figures, and deepened shadows under eaves and around windows. As soon as you do that, it is like the sun coming out. Pure illusion but it always works
I might still tackle this subject again but from a different angle. As someone pointed out, it would have been nice to show more of the old church, and I accept that argument. I do have references taken closer to the church, and may well do that later, but not just yet. I need a change from this subject
Perhaps something from France would be nice to do, and perhaps experiment with some different skies, just to make life interesting
Looks greatly improved! I had thought you would consider redoing the whole thing again. Thanks for taking up the argument to paint the Gothic church from up close.
As for France and a different sky, that rings a bell. Would you mind if I send you a suggestion photo to base some ideas on?
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Thanks. I do have my ideas worked out for my next picture, but all suggestions are very welcome and could prove useful for the future, so always pleased to receive your photograph. Thank you
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A lovely painting! Like the sky and the shade of blue. The shadows look effective.
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Thanks Caroline. had some misgivings at first but I think it has turned out fine
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