figure in the landscape term 1

We had a great trip to Western springs Park for some location sketching of figures in the landscape.
Observing how figures relate to one another and to the environment. Also how important it is to do some good observation and drawing before you start to paint from reference photographs.Photographs are excellent “aide- memoires”but as the camera records all things equally, they cannot record ones emotional response…we do this through selection and emphasis in our drawing.. We also made note of how the camera often fails to record good colour and tonal information- and that, compounded by dodgy printers,makes for poor reference images to use back in the studio- like unbelievably blue water for example or very black uninteresting shadows. We do need always to do the drawing onsite and put colour and tone notes on the drawings.
Here are some of the works done this term.One thing i enjoyed seeing this term was how many of you began to take advantage of thick mediums and to start making interesting paint. Luscious stuff!