Cloister Cluster - completed painting.

With great advice from some very good friends I came to a decision and think this is finished.

Decision time!

How am I going to paint the group of figures? I'm playing with this idea, but wonder whether it's too loose, or too colourful, or both for the setting? I painted the group on a scrap of paper, cut it out and placed it on the painting to see how it would look. I'm undecided, I might try another, less colourful version.

Cloister Cluster - WIP continued

A little more work done, but this was a scary moment. I often feel apprehensive when I'm part way through a painting and know how easy it would be to ruin a promising start! At these times it's a good idea to step back and think about what you want to achieve, once you have a clear idea in your head set about making it happen.

Cloister Cluster - Work in Progress

A recent visit to Gloucester Cathedral with a good friend has inspired me hugely! Just before we left I spotted a tour party in the cloisters, silhouetted against the stained glass windows, and I quickly took a photo knowing it would make a wonderful painting. Whether I can pull it off is another matter!

Here's my drawing, on 140lb Fabriano Artistico extra white paper. There's quite alot of detail in the archetecture, but I'm hoping it won't look too fiddly.

The first step was to lay in a wash of quinacridone gold on all but the windows, then I started building the stonework paying careful attention to the coloured light from the stained glass. I still have a long way to go but I think it might actually work!