Early Start by Paul (Dixie) Dean

I love this one Paul, the background trees are exceptionally good overall a lovely piece of work !!

Beautiful watercolour Paul, well painted.

A lovely painting Paul. I always admire your trees.

Background is fab with the trees 🌳 Paul

Another very good painting, Paul - so much interest!!

Agreed! Those trees are a tour de force… the introduction of birds has helped make this into a really interesting piece.

It's very good Paul

I saw this one coming along (on the Forum) before you'd added the tractor - pre-foreground, as it were. I think you could have left it at that stage, with a very basic foreground wash or two - you might have thought it would then lack a subject, but I wouldn't have cared about that: I think it would have worked. Now this isn't a back-handed compliment; I'm not saying "oh, if only you'd left it!" - but my point is you could have done, and it would have worked well. So I'm offering that as a thought - I'm not usually one of the "less is more" advocates, but I do like a touch of austerity in paintings - a simple statement, leave the imagination to do the work: you could have done that with this one, just those trees, and the delicate background washes, and if you do, I'd like to see it! As it is, good move with the tractor, you wouldn't see intricate detail at that distance, and a touch of mixed media - which reminds me of a typical comment by Arnold Lowrey on one of his pastels when he introduced a bit of water on a rigger brush: "It is allowed!": and it is allowed, and it often works, even if purists in either watercolour or pastel can get sniffy about it.

Beautiful, Paul - and love the sky and trees!

I watched this coming along on the forum Paul. You have some lovely colours in the sky. I like the birds flying behind the tractor. Its a lovely painting Paul.

Oh my what a superb response from you lovely people, it certainly makes me feel quite humbled having such great comment . What make it more so it’s from people who know what they are talking about. Robert the tractor was there from the beginning in the initial sketch it was the first thing I did then built the scene around it , however you have given me food for thought, Alan was saying a while ago it’s good sometimes to do a mini series.

You know, I felt exactly like Robert…the early stage, without the tractor was very attractive, it had a mood. The sky was pivotal in that. Perhaps just a track leading to the horizon. Anyway, you know what you had in mind Paul and of course it’s worked out very well.

Well that settles it, I will definitely have to do another one without the tractor, thanks for your feedback Marjorie I appreciate it .

I agree that the trees are excellent, but I like the whole thing.

Thanks Lew .

Lovely rural scene and beautifully painted, Paul.

A very good rural scene Paul superbly captured indeed.

Thank you Linda and Chris I appreciate you kind comments.

Really like this Paul. Your trees are particularly good.

Thank you Christine.

Great scene Paul

Another lovely painting Paul

Thank you Trevor and Chris I appreciate your comments .

I think your tractor, though out of scale adds interest to the scene, but it is those trees that make it for me. I come from a farming background, so if you paint this scene again Paul, please study the anatomy of a tractor first!

Love the addition of the birds, they really bring it to life.

Thank you Jenny and Frank .

Beautiful watercolour Paul, love the sky and the way you have painted the trees.

Romila thank you for your kind comment.

Thank you for your kind comment Cheryl I appreciate it very much.

Gorgeous soft colours Paul.

Thank you Sandra, I appreciate your kind comment.

What a nice feel to this Paul.

Thanks Julie .