View towards Windermere 1

A typical Lake District look Fiona, great sky and distant hills.

I agree with Carole, Fiona. Lovely recession with those hills and the colours you've used in them and a typical lake district sky. Brings back fond memories as it's where we went on honeymoon, ahem, years ago :):)

You've certainly risen to the challenge, Fiona. It's just lovely - so lively and atmospheric!

Lovely work Fiona and well done on your challenge!

Certainly a challenge Fiona, I always find these distant views difficult. As the others have said, you have coped very well and the picture has a good feeling of distance. The sky has good recession with the lower pat much paler then the top. The distant blue greys are pushed back by the brighter coloured foreground.

Superb, Fiona, especially as it is such a move away from Alan-cum-Wesson. I agree with Stephen.

Thank you everyone. As I mentioned above I found this exercise very difficult, not only was I at a loss as how to begin painting it, I didn't know how to finish it either especially the foreground area.

Lovely watercolour painting Fiona,maim love the recession back to the distant hills, you captured this complicated scene really well

This is really great, one of your best. I think the foregrounds perfect.

Yes, foreground is perfect. I know what you mean about the "nothingness" which isn't the case really. Try and find some focal points and embellish maybe? It's a difficult image to make work, but you have.

.. I might have to try such a scene now having offered my advice!

Some lovely sharp edges in your composition and smashing dry brush work. The trees are also great.

I like the brush work as well, especially those quick strokes of paint across the large area of grass in the foreground.

a challenge well met

Thanks again folks! Gudrun, you've set yourself a challenge!!

I think you are moving forward at a spanking pace in your work. This is a beautiful painting. It is a simple scene and it is all about the palette and brushstrokes. You have held your nerve and resisted injecting too many different greens into the work (which many would have done, me included) and this has resulted in the painting having cohesion and harmony. Lovely dynamic sky as well. Really well done.

Thank you very much Thea, I really appreciate your sincere and constructive feedback. You always tend to dispel some of the negative thoughts I have about my pictures...... and at the moment it's very welcomed, as I am finding this kind of subject quite difficult. Thanks again.

PS I am about to post my second attempt, I would be interested to see what you think of it.

Fiona -a scene after my heart and beautifully painted. I really can't believe how your painting has progressed over the time I have been viewing the gallery. Congratulations. I wish I could advance in the same way!!

Carol, you are very generous and kind in your remarks and although I hope you are right and I have managed to improve over the last few years, it's nothing to do with talent, just lots of practice. Thank you very much.

Hi Fiona, I agree with all previous comments, and I take my hat off to you for finding the courage to push yourself out of your comfort zone. The foreground rock keeps your eye at the front for a while, and then you get taken into the landscape in zig zags, all the way to the distant hills. Well done girl!

Thanks Caroline.......it's a bit scary going away from what you get use to, but you never know what you can achieve if you don't. I didn't enjoy it to begin with I can tell you!

A very fine piece Fiona Barry Langroyd.Hanson

Thank you very much Barry, appreciate your comment.

I think this works particularly well because the foreground is so well painted.