Church Langton, Leics

I find this one more restrained than your previous one; still lovely colours. Perhaps, as you mention, you feel "hemmed in" by having the pen there first. I find this too. The lines are so much stronger than the faint pencil outlines that I do, that I find myself adjusting the paint from a hearty splash to a feeble splosh, sometimes losing tonal value.

Great little scene Michael, love your greens. Good use of pen though, not too much just right. I suppose it depends on the artist choice whether to use pen first, last or both. Either way, a lovely rural painting.

You have some nice little scenes near to you Michael and I think you have done justice to this one. I think you have used just enough pen work to give a little detail and not too much as to make the scene fussy, it's a balancing act is'nt it?

Thank you for posting this, Michael as it is so helpful to see how others work in pen and wash. I know exactly what you mean about doing the pen first because this makes it easy to fall into the trap of just filling in colour between the lines and this is what I think is my problem. This painting certainly doesn't look like it has been 'filled in between the lines' as even although you have done the penwork first and added the washes afterwards, you have retained a lovely sense of looseness with neither the colour nor pen dominating. I am not at your skill level yet but am taking all experiences and advice on board as it is a medium I have become interested in and I would like to achieve better results in time. I will keep watching your work!

It's the colours that make this painting for me Michael, I hardly notice the pen work so it certainly doesn't dominate. That warm plummy colour on the side of the house is just lovely, what did you use if you don't mind me asking?

I think it's a lovely painting Michael and like Val, I didn't really notice the pen work at first. It looks to me as though you added the penwork after painting, definitely not 'filled in between the lines'. I like the almost scratchy (done at speed I'm guessing) pen lines on the trees

This is my sort of pen & wash Michael, wish I could do them like this!! Your pen work is understated and I like the cross hatching in the trees. I'm too heavy handed by far with the ink. Do you ever use ink in your sky, ie do you put shading in for clouds, I always leave well alone because I'm never sure and I can't find many examples of ink work in the sky. Be interested in your ideas about that.

Yes it works! Good perspective (so many submissions get this wrong) and balance of trees/buildings. I particularly like the added colours in the roof and road surface Great stuff!

Certainly does work - you've not been hemmed in by the preliminary drawing; it's just provided you with a base for your quite rich washes of colour. Pen and wash can look stilted, but this doesn't at all.

Lovely work Michael, great colours

Thanks so much everyone. I guess I am lucky in that there are some delightful villages in South Leicestershire and even more so 500yds away when I cross into Northamptondhire which really is a rich area and off the usual tourists maps. Thea you really are kind and I am glad you appreciated the posting. As for the plummy colour it is a mix of light red and ultramarine but I must say here that I have been using a tube of Reeves Ult which is different to W&Ns - also the reproduction here does not quite reflect the original aithough it is close. No I don't use ink in the sky - for me it never looks right. Can I admit one point which niggles me - the gable end of the far building belongs ro the right hand building although you could read it as belonging to the one on the keft - too late now to alter - one of the problems with ink!

Lovely, peaceful feeling in this painting Michael. Good, gentle colours and a very good drawing!

I agree with everyone, beautiful watercolour Michael

Thank you Petra and Satu - I have now had an expression of interest in this painting so perhaps it's a bit better than i give it credit for - it's a toss up between this and another I did of the village - anyway I will know later in the week.

Excellent news! We are always our own best/worst critics! I still prefer your other one, but that is personal taste. That's why it is so interesting and exciting to have the opportunity to see such a variety of good quality work on the website.

this is a lovely painting Michael, i like pen and wash. The shadows are excellent :-)

This is lovely, Michael. You use the lines to great effect.

I am glad this got into the Top Ten. It is a super painting and certainly gave me a few tips about pen and wash.

congratulations on this painting being in the Top Ten of November :-)

Thanks for your kind comments - pleased to say that it has now been sold tosomeone who lives in the village