Back in February I posted a new colouring page featuring our local steam railway, the delightful Mid Hants that runs working engines along the Watercress Line. It’s a composition I was keen to get back to once I had completed my big commission canvas (You can check out my Kingsgate Rooftops scene here). Having cover the subject a few times before in theatrical wintery hues… this painting needed to be more lush and Spring like. I therefore present my green toned ‘Springtime on the Watercress Line’ created with acrylic and ink on A3 acrylic paper.
The view, as it usually is for me, is an imagined one. Pieced together from many different references (I often get asked about working from photographs). Developing into my own unique style after several rounds of drawing. I’ve found that given enough layers at the composition stage it takes on a life of its own when painted.
Here’s a few photos of the paper illustration framed and hung on the wall. It’s a good intense hit of vibrant colour, feeling different and original to my earlier artworks of Alresford. Although it makes an interesting accompanying painting to my older study of Ropley.
Timelapse and Watercress Line Reproductions?
It will be interesting to see how it works across a greetings card and some small gifts. I’ll need to do some testing with the manufacturing on those. Sometimes the colours and brightness need adjusting for the different inks used in the reproductions. Below is my time-lapse capture of the work-in-progress.
Some observers may well point out where I’ve made mistakes on the Steam engine (Always surprisingly tricky). Yet ‘Springtime on the Watercress Line’ was a fun piece to jump back into after recently working at such a large scale. Mostly to challenge myself and to play with some fresh colour. Next up I have some more paper cut dioramas to construct! Watch this theatrical space…
