‘TARGET PRACTICE’

‘Target Practice’, Jephson Gardens, Leamington Spa

Newbold Terrace from Archery Lawn, Jephson Gardens. 👈 See photo taken in 1934 !!

8” x 8” Oil on Canvas board.

I took this picture this week when I was out ‘location scouting’! I’ve eyed this building before but it had never looked so dramatic with the autumn light hitting it low, the moody blue sky behind and the 2 yellow trees still just hanging onto their leaves...

Just goes to show though how something that looks ordinary on one day can look extraordinary the next with the right light conditions. The challenge was how to make the closer tree more ‘see through’ as it only had half its leaves but without putting in loads of branches and making it too fussy.

It’s funny how when you take a photo you can think- oh I wish that bin/ drainpipe didn’t have to be there...in a painting you can obviously choose to leave them out- but actually I found here they can be very useful for breaking up a surface or adding a touch of colour and a ‘full stop’ to prevent your eye from leaving the painting at the side!

Fellow artist @Ednashart and I are teaming up to host regular Plein Air Meet Ups in and around Leamington Spa.

See our Facebook page for more details and event dates :

https://www.facebook.com/PALSartgroup/