Mitchell Fold Cottages from the Canal by David Whitehead

Calm and clear painting David

They aren't probably attractive buildings David, but the light and their setting changes thing. Lovely typical subject. I feel the water surface could do with mre life in tones and reflections

Thanks for your comments. I take your point, Derek, but the water & reflections are like that purposely. In reality the canal water was “cowpat green/brown” but as painters we can improve on reality, can’t we? Distant hills aren’t really purple but they read better that way. I’ve found that darkening the tones in water can easily make it look like a muddy lane instead. It’s a high key painting and I wanted any darks close to the focal point, not as a possible distraction at the bottom of the picture. So, I’d rather viewers read the canal as water with “dodgy” reflections, than seeing it as a muddy lane, adding nothing to the bottom of the picture.

I particularly like the way you have painted the cottages and trees, interesting to read Derek and your comments re the reflections, room for thought. I often just paint things 'as they are'!

Nice composition David, and I like the colour balance of the limited palette.

Thank you both for your comments. Glad you found our differing views interesting, Stephen. Paintings would soon become boring if we all saw things the same way, wouldn't they? The limited palette is W&N cobalt, ultramarine, raw & burnt sienna, and green gold (in mixes with the other four colours).