Tessa Spanton SWA Artist, tutor, writer



TESSA SPANTON SWA ARTIST, WRITER AND TUTOR

Welcome to my blog.
This is where I write about some of the things that inspire my work,
news of exhibitions and works in progress

Monday 7 January 2013

Reid's Palace Madeira


'Reids Palace' watercolour (c) Tessa Spanton

(The colours in the original painting are nicer. I'll take another photo when the weather is brighter, it's very grey in London today)

At last this painting is finished. It was the last of the sequence described below and was about 3/4 ready last January when it was time to come home. I have had a break over Christmas and decided to do some more work on it.

This building looks amazing, high up and rising up from the rocks where the sea is pounding below and looking like a pink confection against the backdrop of mountains.

 I chose roughly the same time each day, around 11 am, to work outside. First I made some sketches and a tonal study. I spent between 1/2 hour to an hour at a time. Much longer and the lighting had changed. It was sunny so the lighting of the building was good though some days so windy that my papers would have blown away if they hadn't been clipped down.


                      
                         Reids Palace Maderia Aquarelle pencil (c) Tessa Spanton

The image above was done with a blue aquarelle pencil and a little water, inspired by the Portuguese azulejos. Very convenient when working outside as all you need is one blue aquarelle pencil and a small brush that can be filled with water like a fountain pen.

In a previous post I showed paintings that I had done of the other side of Reids. here


7 comments:

Stephanie Guy said...

Beautiful work Tessa! I especially love the tonal sketch, so effective in blue - not a colour I would have thought of using for sketching.

I must investigate getting hold of one of those water brushes, I've seen a couple of demos with them and they do look good for on-the-spot work.

Gweddus said...

very inspiring blog. Beautiful paintings brilliantly painted

Reid's Palace said...

Fantastic! And would like then by your next visit to invite you for our buffet lunch at the pool X 2.

Ulisses Marreiros
General Manager
Reid's Palace

Yankeegirl said...

Just stunning Tessa!

Zuda said...

Just lovely, Tessa!

Blessings, zuda

Colours and Textures said...

Many thanks for all your comments.
Stephie the water brushes are so useful and come in different sizes and shapes
I shall look forward to lunch at the pool.

Colours and Textures said...

PS I will write a post about the water brushes some time.