Somerset Ruin

Another evocative painting, Fiona. I like it very much and, indeed, your "Pink Lady". You're turning them out more quickly than I can comment!! I am not sure about Quink ink but, I remember when I used indian ink and a dip-pen, I would dilute it to pencil shade with water and go over the whole drawing. I would then add some ink and go over, say 75% of the picture. Then add a little more ink and go over say 50% of the 75% and so on. That way, you did not start out by using your darkest dark at the beginning and then have nowhere to go. I hope all this makes sense - I know what I mean! I wonder if it might help you.

This is good Fiona I Like it.---- Were you one of the customers in Arkwrights shop [Open all hours] Mavis perhaps

I think this is great - I love using quink too and think it has worked really well here. The colour looks good to me, I think you were probably right to add it.

I also like this - the colour works well with the ink. Have never used ink myself so no expert. All I can tell you is what I see - it's good and I like it.

Nice

Hi Lionel, thanks for the info re ink dilution, I may have just the thing to try that out on. I have an old book that is full of sepia photo's and poetry, I was wondering how to tackle them. Thank you also for your kind comment.

A' don't really know Granville......thanks Charles for your encouraging comment. Mavis x

Many thanks Heather, Glennis and Larry for your feedback.

This is really good Fiona. An interesting tip from Lionel, I 've never tried diluting the ink, I usually use either a non soluable Rotring pen or indian ink with a dip pen or sharpened matchstick, then the ink does not run when I add the watercolour. But 'each to his/her own', whatever works.

Personally I use a stick from the hedgerow not too finely sharpened with indian ink and then go straight in drawing and scrubbing with the stick (sometimes before applying the wash, sometimes after) - a really loose way of painting. But whatever method you use don't give up on it - this is a lovely result Fiona and, for me, it's the contrast between the darks and lights that make it

Many thanks Stephen & Michael, I sometimes use Indian ink but I do like the way Quink melts to form part of the painting itself. I did this with a dip pen and a splinter of wood from the log basket.

Beautiful painting Fiona

Oh this is soo beautifully done, Fiona. I do like the way the ink did flow into the paint. You won't have this effect if you put your ink afterwards. This technique is one of my favourites and you did a great job on this. But: I know watersoluble ink is NOT lightfast, so if you want to frame it and hang it on the wall, it will go lighter and lighter. I know this by experience!!!

Thank you very much Petra and Mia, your comments are much appreciated. Mia thanks for the tip about the ink, don't worry it won't fade where it's going, on the pile in the corner of the room with the rest!! LOL!

Beautiful, I like it very much Fiona.

Really nice Fiona.

Like this one Fiona, sorry i must have missed it when you first posted it, how many paintings are you turning out in a day ? I am finding it difficult to keep up.

Thanks Carole, Denise and Graham for your lovely feedback, I really appreciate you taking the time to look. Graham I try to do something every day even if it's just a sketch. I'm not a natural to painting, I don't find it easy and if I leave it too long between each picture I get rusty.

I prefer this one Fiona

I like them both - as they both have their merits - but the colour brings it to life I think. P.s. thanks v much for your comments re my pics!