Here is a small landscape i did this morning. I wet the whole sheet and flooded in a thin warm wash all over, partly to tone down the white of the paper and partly to warm the lower sky area, to suggest ressesion. Before it dried completely I brushed in a few sweeps of blue at the top allowing it to merge with the first wash, and also at the bottom with some brown added, to strengthen the foreground, again to create depth. As it started to dry I darkened the background hills and base of the trees, and finally scratched out some grasses and added some birds. It looks a bit incomplete so I might add some figures or animals for interest.

Walthamstow finished painting.

Today I changed buses at Walthamstow and noticed a good subject for a quick painting. It was just opposite the cafe where I sat having a cup of tea. I didn't have to search it out as it was just there in front of me as I stared into space. But there was something I wanted to change about the scene and that's when I realized this tip might help any beginners here. I,ll try and post a photo the next time I,m in that area, but it was a simple cluster of shops on the corner opposite me. Behind there were some new flats or offices that spoilt the scene, I thought. So I simply decided to replace them with some tall trees. I didn't have time to paint the whole picture but I,ll show you how far I got. I just did a pencil outline and a few dabs of color to remind me of the main buildings. So I,m basically reminding any beginners that it,s ok to alter things and still get the feel or essence of a scene or location.

Iv,e mentioned the two techniques - wet in wet and drybrush several times here. Thats because they work so well together. Here is an example where I placed the focal point - the boats - drybrushed, against the soft misty sky and mountains. You can often notice this idea in traditional Chinese ink painting.

Here is a quick little sketch and painting of a building I pass almost every day.