Improved City and Docks by Derek Snowdon

Shaky hands or not, I love the limited palette and composition Derek.

Thanks Kal, the compo is all from the photo I used as ref, the big crane on the right is wrong and the reflection too, might re do it.

Keep those hands shaking - looks pretty good to me.

Thanks Michael.

Thank you Michael

It's a real problem, this shaky business: you get a bit nervous about the job in hand, and that makes it worse. Suggestions: worry less about it - put in bold shapes, and use tricks - a piece of card dipped in paint, and applied to the paper; a ruler and ruling pen charged with watercolour; or a fine-grain acrylic like Chromacolour, which you can take out (quickly) if it goes wrong, but gives you that little bit more body in the paint which can be helpful. Or try a rigger and dry-brush - you may not get the precision you might want that way, but you'll get the impression: thickish paint on the rigger, a quick downward flick - you don't even have to finish the stroke. Practise on bits of spare paper until you can do it in your sleep. I can see the problems, but I like the painting - your worry about achieving your results can be seen, but it's not spoiling the picture. Don't be ashamed of using a ruler, by the way - you're just equalizing things if you do, so you too can do what younger types (blast them!) can do without any external help. We can't help getting older and wobblier, after all. Last - look up Arnold Lowrey on YouTube or on his website: he's no youth, I believe he's actually suffered a stroke, but his treatment of rigging is expert, and relies very much on experience and speed.

Thanks Robert great and useful advice there. I do some of those things, I believe it's part careless/clumsiness too, that is ocurring more in my life since hospitalisation, stroke and other stuff which includes ageing! I did attend a demo and talk with Lowrey after a week's painting holiday and he was smashing to deal with and gave us a lot of time. I know what you mean.

Excellent work, Derek, love the reflection and the simple elegance of the piece.

Thanks Seok, it is better than the other

Simple but powerful piece well done Derek , thank you also for your kind comment on my latest .

Thanks and no prob Dermot, we all try to help each other.