Original Watercolours by Tim Wilmot

Joseph Zbukvic painting course day 3

Day 3 and studio exercise was another Paris scene, on a rainy dark day.  For me this was particularly difficult because of timing the washes and the reflected highlights of windows and car headlamps (the yellow went in at quite an early stage I can remember).  I thought my attempt looked more like an illustration out of a Harry Potter scene.

Anyway job done and on with the next one. In the afternoon the group ventured out to a bay further into Cadeques centre, which offered scenes to either side so I painted them both!  First one, maybe a more orthodox Cadeques scene, looking into the light:

And my second painting I relocated a short distance to the other side of the bay and with a beer in hand (well I was sat in a nice cafe there) and a brush in the other (had to make sure I was dipping my brush in the correct glass), did this one. Not an easy one this because of lack of composition opportunities and no contrasts between light and shade because of the diminishing light levels. It did illustrate the very narrow road that hugs the side of the bay.

This was the first day I was using the better Saunders Waterford paper on my plein air paintings.  Until then I had used the much cheaper Bockingford.  Saunders takes longer to dry by comparison, is not so white, but the washes behave themselves!

 

Joseph Zbukvic painting course day 2

Day 2 and exercise in the morning was a typical Paris scene, looking into the light.  This was an exercise is tone, light and composition, with I suppose the most difficult being the pedestrian crossing and perspective.

Here is my rendition:

In the afternoon we moved outside for a spot of plein air painting.  And literally just outside the hotel in Cadeques (Llane Petit) is this great little bay with picture postcard boats high up on the shingle beach:

As always, Joseph spent a lot of time with the students and offering guidance and help along the way, as wel as a critique the end of the painting.  Joseph's comments on this one - foreground too small (or horizon not high enough), shadow on road too warm and too much detail in the foreground.

 

Villefranche Sur Mer, Cote d’Azur

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 300 gms

This is a busy town in a busy part of the Côte d'Azur - Monaco is one side and Nice is on the other. A few of the features that make it attractive to visitors are the seaside, with long sandy beaches (the bay is supposed to be in the top 5 worldwide), terrace cafés and restaurants. Villefranche’s Old Town, with most buildings dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, is filled with wonderful provençal colours, flowers, and balconies — all cascading down the hillside to the sea and the waterfront quayside.

 

Eastern Harbour, Alexandria, Egypt, 2

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford NOT Paper 300 gms

Alexandria Bay - The Easter Harbour looking up to the Fish Market at the end of the bay. Small terracotta tiled shelters, almost like a bus shelter, give welcome shade from the midday sun. It's also a great place to rest your fishing boat and give the hull some much needed attention.

 

 

Guilvinec street, Brittany 2

 

Original Watercolour 10" x 7"

Guilvinec is a major port on the tip of Brittany. Flanked on one side by the busy port and the other by it's beaches. In the town there's a wide variety of small traditional shops and cafes, and Sunday and Tuesday there's a market selling local produce.

 

Le Sainte Marine 2, Brittany

 

Original Watercolour 10" x 7"

Le Sainte Marine, back streets just behind the seafront.  This was looking away from the village centre, and the estuary is just over on the left hand side, down a little hill.  It's a quiet place and I thought just like Cornwall with loads of empty second homes.

 

Le Cafe du Port Sainte Marine, brittany

 

Original Watercolour 10" x 7"

Le Cafe du Port in Sainte Marine at the mouth of the river Odet in Brittany.  Lovely place to hang out and watch the boating action up and down the river.  Great menu as well with it's Fruits de mer.  There's a regular ferry here over to Benodet.

 

Le Sainte Marine, Brittany

 

Original Watercolour 10" x 7"

Le Sainte Marine, Brittany.  Even prettier than it's larger neighbour, Benodet, on the other side of the river Odet.  Quaint little cafes overlooking calm bays.  And a popular spot for sheltered moorings.

 

Walk along the estuary at Benodet, Brittany

 

Original Watercolour 10" x 7"

Benodet, a lovely tourist town situated at the mouth of the river Odet.  Late afternoon walk into the town with the busy estuary on the left.  The whole landscape in this area reminds one of the southern coast of Devon or Cornwall.  And another nice thing about the town - parking is free!  UK take note.

 

Guilvinec Rue de la Marine

 

Original Watercolour 10" x 8"

Rue de la Marine is one of the main streets in this busy little seaside port in Brittany.  Just to the right of the picture is the popular Olivier bar/restaurant selling it's range of crepes or thin pancakes.  Crepes are served with a range of fillings.  The traditional crepe recipe from Brittany simply includes flour, eggs, milk and melted butter since in past times these pancakes used to be the main meal in the Brittany countryside.  Only problem with these thin crepes - one is not enough!