Painters Online Logo

Login/register

Studio

WIP - MK City View

Welcome to the forum.

Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.

Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.

Hang on Studio Wall
Showing page 1 of 3
Author
Message
Waddesdon Grotesque

Andrew Roles

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 507
Posted
Dearest Gentle Reader, I've not done one of these before, but thought I'd give it a bash. I have a real liking for hard architecture mixed with organic elements such as trees or rocks. This WIP is a view of Queen's Court which is part of the central shopping complex in Milton Keynes. It's recently been renovated following a fire in one of the food stalls which had replaced the original green planting and pools. It is now close to it's original layout and in the summer it's alive with people in deck chairs and kids paddling in the fountains. Much better. Here's a working sketch I did from a photograph I took a month or so back. I'm working in acrylics on a 41 x 59cm stretched canvas.  Stage 1 is a scumbled base coat of Burnt Sienna which I prefer to white these days. I've added in the major components using white charcoal.  I'll add  images as work progresses. Honest.

Alan Bickley

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 11888
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4488
Posted
A good start with the horizontal lines offsetting the tall vertical trees…all making for an interesting composition!
Waddesdon Grotesque

Andrew Roles

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 507
Posted
This doesn't look like much progress, but it took me a while to sort out the sky elements and colours and the glass panels on the top right. I'm looking forward to doing the trees most of all.  I hope to post another later today after my art group meets.
IMG_0232

Brett Hill

  • Forum Member +
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 62
Posted
What do you like about the scumbled base coat?

Edited
by Brett Hill

Waddesdon Grotesque

Andrew Roles

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 507
Posted
What do you like about the scumbled base coat?
Brett Hill on 02/03/2026 09:55:45
I find it a less harsh / glaring surface to paint on, and I like the way it peeps through your brush strokes occasionally creating a more interesting effect than just white. I tend to be quite stringent about edges in my paintings but if I do paint loosely then the result is very pleasing.  E.g This is one my earlier paintings using this base coat. https://www.painters-online.co.uk/gallery/andrewr3/2025/493668/

Alan Bickley

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 11888
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4488
Posted
Always good to kill off the white background, glare for one, areas can be left untouched to show through etc - but there are more important reasons than that of course! Working out your tonal values is much easier on a tinted background… but we all know that by now, it comes up so often on here!

Denise Cat

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 6932
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 2620
Posted
I'm liking the look of this Andrew. It's going well.
Waddesdon Grotesque

Andrew Roles

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 507
Posted
Working out your tonal values is much easier on a tinted background… Alan Bickley on 02/03/2026 14:00:35 Yes, that too  - thanks Alan.😁👍

Edited
by Andrew Roles

This post has been removed as it violates our forum rules and guidelines.

Waddesdon Grotesque

Andrew Roles

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 507
Posted
Started this today, it was a toss up between this and some daffodils….oops! Should I have put this on a new WIP? Oil on board
Marjorie Firth on 02/03/2026 20:35:51
Marjorie, easily done, but it would be better if you started your own thread and edited out your posting, just to avoid confusion with the thread title and people commenting on both pictures. Thanks!

Edited
by Andrew Roles

IMG_8857

Marjorie Firth

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 8039
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 2434
Posted
Andrew, sorry. I can’t edit out the image. Is there someone else who can help?
IMG_3630

Paul (Dixie) Dean

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 21314
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 6917
Posted
Marjorie I will remove it and you can open a new thread , don’t take any notice of the reason it was removed. 
Showing page 1 of 3