Report by PAM HARLEN
October 2017

We arrived laden with four boards with stretched paper, newspapers, white China plates and usual painting gear. The stretched paper was to help create the beautiful washes of transparent colours Adrienne produces. The white plates were for coloured washes; a different plate for each colour.

Using an upside-down board, beginning at the horizon, the sky was painted with graded washes of lemon yellow, magenta then water.

The painting was dried before clouds were added. A wet water wash was added, then strong coloured washes from the side of the board which was tilted causing the paint to run in a controlled way to create the cloud shapes. Hills, foreground and water were approached in the same way with an under wash and always drying between washes. Light parts were left e.g. on the horizon. A busy sky needed a quiet landscape or vice-versa.

As drying time between washes is essential we had fun painting a still life in the interim. We used photos and experimented with shaved watercolour pencils, crayons, toothbrushes etc. My expectations were met with I gained knowledge and had an enjoyable day.


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