Painting to Support Prospect Hospice

Last year I spent some time sketching in the garden at Prospect. It was a lovely place to spend time, very quiet and full of colour.

Supporting Prospect

This week, to support Karma Wall's expedition to the Great Wall of China, I decided to do a painting. It will be used to raise money for Prospect.  Her trek, and the training for it sounds amazing but very hard work!  You can support her here:  https://www.justgiving.com/page/karma-wall-1720439809363?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=EM

The Sketch

I had several sketches to choose from, of both the Bluebell Walk and the larger part of the garden. They could all be a potential painting! One sketch focused on a view of a silver birch tree:

The Silver Birch & a Place to Sit

I was drawn to sketch this because of the textured bark, rough and smooth, light against dark.  

I choose this sketch as the basis for a painting because I like the freedom of the style of drawing. My sketch is loose in both outline and colour. I draw quite fast and you will see that in the type of pen marks, twirling and lyrical. I wanted to keep the style similar to the sketch; with paint I wanted it to be impressionistic.

As you can see I also wrote a few notes to myself on the sketch. I often do this to help me remember the colours and feelings of being there.

Close up of the Sketch

Beginning the Painting

I tried to keep the painting quite loose and expressive. I used mostly large brushes, with an old kitchen silicone spatula to add detail. I did a background first of quite loose bright colours.

Aiming to keep it as loose as the sketch, I've left the network of wandering branches vague, I've tried to avoid the impression of painting lots of individual leaves; just the occasional few should be enough to suggest the shape and form. My underpainting was a few blocks of colour here and there, rather than solid colour. I like doing this to give variation. I let some of it show through for some brightness and contrast.

Here is a half finished photo...

Half - Finished Painting

Finishing the painting

Gradually I added more blue in the background, and more texture and detail in the foreground to create depth. Although the main focus is the tree, there is detail in the bushes, forms that give shape and interest, against the indistinct background.

All the different pastel colours in the bark of the tree give variation and brightness.

There is stark contrast between the silvery colours of the smooth outer bark, peeling like paper to reveal the rugged gnarled layers revealed underneath. I've used reds, purples and oranges to show the warmth of the darker fissures.

Trees are alive, and in painting them I like to create the impression of energy and movement they have in the wind, when their limbs seem to dance.

Here are a couple of images of the finished painting which is now listed in my shop:

Painting Gardens as Therapeutic Images

After a couple of years of painting lots of gardens, I find I am drawn to painting seating areas, as a viewer I think it allows me to imagine spending time there.

The garden is a space for reflection, a therapeutic garden. To match this I want to leave some calm areas in the picture. I also like it because the layout of the area within the garden lends itself to being a little haven or refuge. Protection of the tree and bushes create a semi enclosed space.

Half way along the space it is a spot to sit where for some people, energy and walking might be limited. It is also a spot with a view of the colourful part of the garden, vibrant flower beds.

I think silver birches are probably one of the favourite trees for artists to paint. They lighten woodland areas which might otherwise be dark. In sunshine they reflect and have tints of subtle colour.

There are aspects of wellbeing in woodland that I wanted to suggest. Patterns, such as leaves on a tree, can be almost hypnotic and mesmerising. The eyes travel around and the mind can feel freer. Leaf litter, also is something that can causes people to look, and spend time taking notice. Maybe leaves, or leaf litter can have the same impact in a painting as in real life?

Painting Live

I did this as a live painting, trying out Facebook's Live streaming, which lets people see me at work in my studio. Painting live helps me paint in a similar way to painting on location; I don't get too hung up on detail, and I seem to finish faster. I found Facebook streaming a a bit fiddly - when I've done it on Instagram it's been easier to interact with people. Next I will try You Tube. I'm interested to here from people where you watch videos the most.

When I get into the habit of painting live, it becomes second nature.  I get a feel for a balance of painting and talking, occasionally I can be immersed in the painting, I can forget about the camera for a few moments!

I think of it mostly on rainy days when I think people might be looking for things to do. I'm planning to publish a few online sessions in advance so let me know what you'd like to see.

When painting on my own in the studio, I spend long periods just looking.  So painting live online is quite different.   I do it in fairly short stints to give me time to reflect in between.  I want to paint in the same way as much as possible, so that being watched doesn’t impact how I work.

I’d be interested to hear what people are most interested in.  What media would you like to see? I could sketch, use oils, collage, pastels, charcoal, etc. 

There seems to be interest in watching people paint, as the Sky TV programmes have become very popular – and years later I still hear people talk about Bob Ross. 

Future Painting to Support Prospect Hospice

At some point I will do another painting for Prospect... Below are two watercolour paintings of Prospect that I could use for a future larger painting... is there one of these you think would work well?