A flock

A flock of sheep on a road. My  first decision whether to go with watercolour or oil ? In this case it was watercolour. The reason, I wanted to try out the design in simple terms, just suggesting the sheep and keeping the composition fluid. If I was to try to depict this scene in oil paint I would have a good idea as to where I can improve and what colours to use. That is one of the many values of watercolour, it's  spontaneity and  a quick sketch can give as much information as will be needed to see, if a composition works and also as a valuable reference or stand alone work on its own.

A flock, watercolour on Fabriano artistico rag paper 7x10.5 ins

josephmahon.faso.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joseph-Mahon-Art/656996051062375

Nostalgia

Nothing like a bit of nostalgia. This little painting is from 1994, when I was painting in a more conventional style. Even the scene is traditional, as in a landscape with sheep. It's scene from Surrey in the UK, about 20 miles from London. I used to go there a lot when I was living in London, to get a break from the hustle and bustle. It's   5x7.5 ins watercolour on Fabriano artistico 140lbs paper.

josephmahon.faso.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joseph-Mahon-Art/656996051062375

An artist.

I have been using Fabriano artistico 300lbs rag paper for a while now,  but I fear it has some limitations for me. It's great that the paper does not need to be stretched, but I feel that it does not facilitate a loose washy painting style. I think I might try some hot press 140 lbs brands, to try and achieve that looseness I am after in my watercolours. A bit like the image below from a cheap paper, that was very fluid to use as I recall. Hopefully after some experimentation, I will find a light quality watercolour paper that suits me, and I will report my findings.

josephmahon.faso.com

mahonart.blogspot.ie

A violinist

The subject was back lit, and almost in silhouette. I decided to break up the image, as it was too hard. I opted for fracturing of a sort  to break up the hardness and thus created a texture and an effect., hopefully. Watercolour on paper 7x10.5 ins Fabriano artistico 300lbs.

josephmahon.faso.com

mahonart.blogspot.ie

A small herd

I was out for a walk a few years back and I met this  little herd of cows coming down a hill. They were as surprised to see me, as I was to see them. When I got home I sketched a quick watercolour, loose and fluid. Watercolour on Hahnemule 140lbs paper.

mahonart.blogspot.ie

josephmahon.faso.com

Golfers 2

I have been experimenting with juxtapositioning of colours in my oil painting and the effects possible, to achieve a sort of impressionistic piece. It's a subject that has always interested me. The impressionists were probably the first to use it with great effect. Others developed the idea further and adapted pointillism as a means a creating an image. My little painting is of two golfers, oil on board 4x6 ins.

josephmahon.faso.com

mahonart.blogspot.ie