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MY PROCESS

THE MAKING OF RUSSELL'S WATER

* PAGE WILL BE UPDATED SOON - My process has changed since 2018 *

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I start most of paintings with pencil, quickly drawing in the main features of the subject. I then begin to block in some colour, which will set the tone for the final piece. I usually seem to work from the back forwards when adding more detail. This is especially true when I am painting a scene with sky and water, because it is easier to tie the water to the sky.

I painted this 'en plein air' spending two sunny June afternoons sitting by the pond in Russell's Water. My presence created some interest from the locals, who have great pride in their pond, one kind lady bringing me a much needed bottle of ice cold water, thankyou.

I photographed the painting a few times to show some of the stages of my painting process.

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RUSSELL'S WATER                Oil on Canvas                   40cm x 30cm                June 2018

 

Russell's Water

This pond is in the small hamlet of Russell's Water, perched on the side of the Chiltern Hills, in Oxfordshire. The pond itself found fame in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,

Truly Scrumptious crashes the car into the water in a memorable scene. This infamy brings many visitors to the area, a popular stop off point on The Ridgeway National Trail, which runs for 87 miles from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. 2018 is the 50th Anniversary of the film and the village is honouring this with a party.

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