After Wesson

Really nice silhouette on the hedge line and mill, like the distant hill lines very effective, I quite like the sky it has that brooding menace of a storm about it even if it is not what you wanted, nice one Fiona.

I like the atmosphere with the menacing and brooding sky, works well in this painting Fiona, perhaps think of change of watercolour paper you use if you are unhappy with your sky washes. I use Bockingford 200 Not for my watercolours and seems to work well .Still like the overall composition and atmosphere, well done .

The sky is not bad at all. Nice moody landscape Fiona.

It's a pretty good effort, simplicity always appeals to me. The sky is okay in principle, perhaps the washes haven't blended together as you would have liked, that is no doubt the paper, my preference is Fabriano 300 NOT, it's a touch expensive but a lovely surface to paint on. Well done anyway Fiona.

You have created great drama here Fiona, I like the silhouette of the mill. I read in some how to paint book when I first stared to paint that the paper quality is the most important for watercolour, since then I have always used good rag paper, the problem is I have nothing to blame now!

Another superb watercolour Fiona

cor I like this. lovely skyline just a few colours used and you have created an atmospheric painting I like the aerial perspective sky is not a problem for me picasso

I think there is tremendous atmosphere in this painting Fiona and the washes of the sky rather add to the appeal. I love the looseness of it. It's interesting to read about papers. I can't be bothered to stretch paper so use a medium weight rough Saunders Waterford and heavy if Zive had s birthday!! Diana

Beautiful Fiona great work

Many thanks Malcolm, Graham, John, Alan, Stephen, Michael, David, Diana and Dennis. I couldn't agree more about the use of a quality of paper. I usually use Arches for watercolours and use the Jacksons rough for pen & wash work but I picked the nearest pad up and this was the results. It's not a bad paper but it prefers to have the first wash layed and not fiddled with.....so it does require getting it right first time....which I didn't do with the sky. Thanks again!

Fiona I love it excellant

Beautiful painting Fiona, with limited palette and few brushstrokes you tell a story.

You've caught the style of the great man and it's an excellent painting , the sky is pretty good , the only thing I would do is soften an edge or two which is what I always do when a sky drys and I'm not completely happy with it .

Beautiful Fiona lovely I notice how simple the composition is if I were you I'd look through lots of pictures and reduce and simplify one or bits out of one or two , then come up with an equally simple composition as this , then paint it in this same way . As you paint it keep Edward Wessons painting along side , I bet you could do some great work , you've got the talent , I mean this advice as helpful and I hope its okay Fiona .

Loads of atmosphere, a lovely, lively watercolour!

Well, this has impact in a cool palette way. I rather like the sky!

So frustrating when it happens Fiona. Nice new paper and it you discover it's foibles too late! But next time....It's only the top right bit of the sky though and the eye goes to the mill and the lovely green wash. You should see the w.c. mess I made yesterday ( but you're not going to)

I like the sky Fiona. Lovely horizon in dark ink.

Jenny, Cesare, Dermot, thank you very much for your comments and advice...appreciated. Dennis, of course I don't mind your advice, I'm glad of it, in fact I have a couple of friends coming around for a painting day today and I think I will but your advice into action and give it a go! I don't know about the great work it though Dennis but I'll try my best. Thank you X Thanks girls very much....Marjorie, the top right is the bit that bothers me and I've cropped it off on another photo and it looks much better. If I did as you and didn't show the ones that turned out rubbish, I'd have nothing to post!!!lol Funny how some go like a dream and others......well, least said. Thanks for your comment!

Hi Fiona! I love this and actually I think the sky kind of makes it. I know what you mean about the paper, the paint behaves quite differently on it, doesn't it. Alan Owen said ages ago that a perfectly done sky doesn't sit as well in a loose watercolour painting as an imperfect one does, and I always think of that when mine don't come out how I'd have liked.

There is something about it !!!!

The sky doesn't bother me Fiona, the whole thing works very well.

Thanks Fiona for lovely reply

This is lovely Fiona. Skies do look like this, I can't see anything wrong with it.

A nice grumbly sky to compliment the rolling countryside Fiona.

That's made me a lot better Caroline.....thank you. Alan's advice makes sense doesn't it but he is a very wise man. Many thanks Lesley, Peter, Frank, Margaret, Sarah for your comments and feedback......much appreciated.

I still think this has a lot going for it. I really like the windmill against the sky. What brand of paper Fiona? Is it their eco paper?

Thank very much Peter! No, it's their rough, gummed blocks I use. I did, by mistake, order one of the Eco blocks but I don't like it.

You know what I am going to say Fiona it’s E/W ! I actually like the sky. It gives it great atmosphere and I love the looseness about the whole painting, I would love to have a go at this. Where did you get the scene from or is it just imagination.Whichever I like it, William.