New Marine Art

After an extended period of commercial illustration work I have managed to slip in a couple of pieces of my own.

The first is a study of a topsail schooner off the Yorkshire east coast and the second a foreshortened study of Tower Bridge in London which will eventually be reinterpreted into a larger painting. This was intended to be a try out for texture and colour values.

Other than a slight warming up of the colour values of the bridge I am happy with the layout.

Topsail Schooner off Flamborough Head

Tower Bridge Afternoon

Tower Bridge, Winter Morning

The first Tower Bridge painting I exhibited at the Alexander Miles Gallery during the National Maritime Museum Annual show sold. The gallery is close to Tower Bridge, so it was suggested that another study of the bridge might be in order.

I never revisit the same subject with the intention of producing a "Clone" so it was necessary to find another location close to but not the same spot as used previously. I was also keen to explore the bright reflected light and deep shadow which I had used in the first painting but in a slightly tighter and controlled manner.

Below are the various stages from initial sketch with watercolour pencils through to the completed work.

Coloured pencil sketch

Initial composition quickly drawn in with a brush

Tonal values and main featured blocked in

Final Work