I don’t think I’ve posted since before last Friday, That
was the day that I broke my left shoulder. Which is one good reason why I haven’t
posted. One handed typing is a pain. One other reason why I haven’t posted
since is that it’s now June, and June is the time of the 30x30 direct
watercolour challenge. Direct watercolour means that you don’t sketch the
design first – you have to go straight in with watercolour.
I first undertook the challenge in 2018 and I did complete
it. I repeated in 2019, did not attempt it in 2020 and then made my third completion
in 2021. Especially in these earlier years I quite often made quite sketchy paintings
that were pretty quick and easy to do. I look at the stuff I did in those years
and it’s not brilliant at all. Well, we all have to start somewhere. Then in
2022 I managed to make some pictures that I was quite proud of during the
challenge. Not all of them by any means, but certainly some of them. In 2023
this continued, and although some of the first ten were a wee bit ropey, as a
set they were clearly the best I’ve done. I loved the whole experience.
2024 it was a different story. Whereas my first ten were inconsistent
the year before, now they were very consistent. Consistently bad. I didn’t
think that any of them were any good. If I had managed one decent picture then maybe
I might have continued. However they were all rubbish and I gave up after 10. I
wasn’t annoyed with the fact that I wasn’t doing better than 23. I was angry
with myself that I’d gone so far backwards.
So to 2025. I promised myself this –
I would give myself however long was necessary to make each
painting and not go chasing the schedule of at least 1 per day.
I would on the same hand be prepared to stop working on
each painting when I had done what I could and not overwork it.
I would be more experimental with colours
I would be doing it for fun
So 9 days in how is it going. Well, judge for yourself – here’s
the first 8 –
1 – Old Royal Mail Van. One of my 2023 favourites also had
an old postman’s van, although the one in this is older. Really pleased – a lot
of quite difficult elements in this.2 – Multicoloured warthog. I set out to be experimental here
and I do rather like the results. One friend has already asked for a print.3 – Donkey. Probably the weakest of the 8 so far. The actual
modelling of the animal itself isn’t bad. I like the ghostly trees in the background.
But I think I needed to be bolder with the colours. The overall effect is a
little insipid.4 – bull – Nothing insipid about the colours with this one.
It was a bit of a reaction to what happened with the donkey and although it’s
maybe a little more crude, I think it’s far more successful.5 – 1940’s London. My plan with this was to use some bigger
blocks of colour than I normally do and less detail and more suggestion. I am bowled
over by the result. Yeah, it’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a painting that
turned out very close to the picture that was in my head when I started. If I could
have made something like this last year then I might well have completed the
challenge.6 – Oslo tiger statue – a very different painting, much
bolder. I think the modelling of the statue itself is really good. Although when
I was in Oslo in January it was so dull and gloomy it was hard to believe that
the place ever looked like this.7 – mid century grocer. It was time I made at least 1
picture where the focus is on a human figure. I have overworked the face,
sadly. At least it’s not a complete wash out – I like the work on the shirt,
for example.8 – 30s/40’s Americana. While I was looking for reference
photos for my grocer I came upon a photo showing this. I knew it would work as
a subject if I could do my best to do it justice. Overall it took hours butt I’m
stupidly pleased with the result
Well, look, I have to say that I think it’s the best start I’ve
ever made to a 30x30 challenge. I think I’ve certainly spent more time on it
than I’ve ever done before. Will the quality continue. Watch this space.