Le Bandiat
Ferme du Lac, L'Epinassie by Martin Webster
A series of three watercolours I painted on location last year. They all depict the river Bandiat at L’Epinassie (near Marval) on the Haute-Vienne and Dordogne border. This was my first experience of painting on location and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was also the first time I painted a water scene.
I learned a lot more about composition, interpreting the scene, and choosing my palette during the first week of August last year than I expected.
Ferme du Lac – With hindsight, this was quite ambitious and that’s probably why I’m a little disappointed with the result. Whilst I struggled to finish the painting in the early evening light that’s no excuse for overworking the foreground trees and getting the distant trees above the weir a shade too dark.
Le Bandiat (1) – My favourite. Albeit not the strongest composition, I’m really pleased with the moss-covered trees even though I’ve over done their reflection.
Le Bandiat, L'Epinassie by Martin Webster
Le Bandiat (2) – The last picture in the series. I like the composition most. But once again have overworked the distant trees and opposite bank. I’d like to do this again; fortunately I took many photographs.
Le Bandiat, L'Epinassie by Martin Webster
Unfortunately, the only painting I’ll be doing this month is with a roller and emulsion!
These are wonderful for a first attempt. Plein air painting is very difficult and you have had some success here. I have only done plein air twice and had the same issues you mention. The bright light is a challenge for me. I can’t see the values or colors quite right.