Commission

 

 

Via Gallery Dalström in Kungshamn I received a commission for a large watercolour painting depicting a view somewhere along the rocky coastline around Bohuslän in western Sweden. This dramatic, rugged landscape with its crystalline and metamorphic rocks has always fascinated me so I was more than pleased to accept the challenge.

My partner and I drove the 250 km northwards to find subject matter for the painting. Normally I would do some sketches directly on location “En plein air” but the weather was cold and extremely windy so I relied on taking as many photographs as possible during the daylight hours. Despite the challenging conditions I managed to take 85 photos from many directions.

sorting through the 85 photos

After studying all the shots I had taken I decided not to use one single photo but to combine some of the elements from three different ones taken in the same light. The background with sea spray added dynamic movement to the scene. A little closer were flat smooth rocks with small rock pools creating a calm contrast to the dramatic background. Lastly the nearest rugged rocks with colourful, intricate details were just irresistible and asking to be painted.

 I started by stretching the large sheet of paper (68 x 92cm) onto a drawing board. This was done to keep it flat regardless of the amount of water used during the painting process.

 

 

 

Then I sketched the scene using a water soluble pencil.

 

 

 With a toothbrush I flicked tiny specs of masking fluid to create the impression of sea spray. Then I painted the dark blue and green sea. With a white watercolour pencil I scraped tiny shavings onto the wet background then smudged the dots with a fine fan brush.

The specs made by using masking fluid are whiter and sharper than the ones made with the white pencil. This creates depth in the painting.

I then painted the smooth dark rocks where the waves were breaking and also the green wash further in. I had some difficulty making the rocks really look wet.

Now it was time to add the warm colours of the sun drenched granite and sandstone.  This was a time consuming process, one small area at a time. I am looking forward to painting the reflections in the water of the rock pool, and of course all the details of the foreground.
More about that in my next post.