Wanting to move away from the blues and greens of recent paintings, I decided I’d start a forest painting with a seriously intense colour, magenta. It does still tie into reality through foxgloves and pink-purple heathers, so there is a little landscape-painting logic behind the choice.
I started with adding some texture in thin vertical strips for tree trunks, then once this has dried I brushed over magenta. I added a little red to this for a bit of variation, then left it to dry before starting to layer in colour that will ultimately read as “tree trunks”. If you’re wondering about the background, I did this at Skyeworks Gallery.







This is still a work-in-progress. I have some idea of where I’ll go next (such as refining the darks), but have left the painting at Skyeworks so I’ll have to see if what I’ve in mind still applies when I see it again on Wednesday.
One comment so far from someone who’s seen it has been that it’s “tweed handbag colours”, referencing the bright pinks popular in modern tweeds. Any other suggestions?
I do SO enjoy your work!
It looks great even now! Looking forward to see the final version!
It looks like a view of the ocean and a sunset throu a full sheer curtain…from the picture. The sunset even reflects on the water in my view.
Love seeing how people approach pieces – thanks for the share.
I do love seeing your process with your layers of colors! I can see something different and changing in each step, very inspirational for me. Love it.
I love the stage of the work when you turned it sideways and let the blues run.
I love the stage of the work when you turned it sideways and let the blues run.
About your painting, Marion.
“1945”
O my goodness
How sumptuous and tragic
Nature
Across the bars
My heart is bleeding
As the Ocean
Under a sky
Ablaze
I am an army deserter
And I think of my fellows
Dead on the beaches
Infused with their blood
These streaked with blood
Sky and sea
Torment my soul
Like a sudden stroke!
🙂
I liked the sequence that you present in your post. I am eager to see the following steps. It has to be in a fantastic work. Thank you for sharing
Thank you! I haven’t worked any further on this yet — I need to get over the “I’m going to mess it up” fear and am waiting until I’ve a clear thought about what I’ll do next rather than a “maybe this, maybe that”.