Outside the Lines

"Explosive"

Original Watercolour on paper

©Kaye Parmenter 2014

When painting the subject of polo with its explosive pace, I rely heavily on photographs taken on the day to help me when I return to the studio.

I have learnt not to be precious about photographs.  When photographing a sporting event, I simply keep my finger on the shutter and take as many pictures as I can - it doesn't matter if I have to sift through 300 photos if it means I find the one I'm looking for -  a major benefit of the digital age!

For me, the photograph is just the start.  It captures a split second moment, but the image does not represent movement, speed and energy.  The player and pony are static on the photograph.    The most fantastic thing about being an artist is having the opportunity to represent that image on paper or canvas and to bring as much "spirit'' to the painting as possible.  Artistic Licence!

So, when I view the photograph, I see a static image, with everything "inside the lines".  Everything stopped the moment I pressed the shutter.

How can I bring life, movement and energy back into the painting.  "Painting outside the lines"!  From a very early age, we may have been conditioned not to go over the lines.  In a sense, I suppose there's nothing wrong with this, but I wonder whether this feeling may follow us into adult life?

With a large section of the painting completed with merging washes and colours "within the lines" we can then let go and allow the brush "outside" in a spontaneous, confident and lively way.  With the washes still wet, we can encourage the paint to flow out of the main shapes.  This can create the suggestion of movement and blur.

The polo field is filled with expertise - very talented players and amazing ponies.  Artistically speaking, I love chaos on the paper !

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A Grand Event

Black Bears Polo 

Acrylic on Canvas

It is hard to believe that a whole year has passed since I last attended the British Polo Day event at Henley on Thames and I’m excited to say that I will again be exhibiting at their event.  In the last 12 months, British Polo Day have travelled extensively, celebrating British luxury and heritage in a polo events network that spans the World.   It has looked quite an exhausting schedule but each time they manage to host a spectacular event and the photographs are always a joy to see.

With just four days left to prepare and pack, I have a list that spans three A4 sheets of paper!  I’m very excited and will be sharing lots of photographs and news from this wonderful event!

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Down Time

When I’m not painting, I’m thinking of painting.  Anyone who is self-employed will know how difficult it is to down tools and stop, let alone relax…….so how about this – a beautiful lodge in North Devon where the website states “unplug, reconnect, revive”.

In a beautiful “tent” (which I do emphasise is in inverted commas – you have to see it),  where the heating is provided only by burning wood and light from solar and candle,  the lovely owner explains gently to us and presumably to every new arrival, that the one and only power socket in the tent is best used only to recharge the camp-lights.    You know what this means,  no charging of gadgets.  Every quick peek to check messages and a download of emails takes the battery nearer to the dreaded “red bar” and will inevitably cut off your connection to the outside world.  It’s surprising how often you look and it feels wrong – surely we should be able to unplug, reconnect and revive.  This weekend has been a lesson to me.

The lodge was totally perfect in every way possible, with attention to detail second to none.  Longlands is an exciting and enviable business  with a level of organisation that appears effortless but you really know it isn’t – let’s talk hard work and lots of lists (great tip Bella!).  They absolutely need to be congratulated in their efforts to provide the perfect place to unwind and relax.  It is truly amazing.

With a lake stocked with Trout, a fishing rod is made available for all to have a go.  It would appear that, on our trip, the least experienced were probably the most successful, isn’t it always the way? There are also two small rowing boats and a lovely jetty with two wooden chairs – idyllic surroundings.

You soon become aware that maybe there isn’t a need to check your phone with the relentless regularity you do everyday.  With the sun setting, a glass of champagne on the terrace, and a game of candle-lit charades waiting for you inside, you slowly begin to realise that, the world won’t stop if you don’t check your emails.

After just a couple of days, I began to feel appreciation for small things and my thoughts turned to not taking things for granted.

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www.longlandsdevon.co.uk

The Cast

The Cast

With the Mayfly season approaching and what is affectionately known as "Duffers Fortnight" when the Mayflies rise, I am keen to get amongst the action artistically speaking!  

Watercolour seems quite the perfect medium to capture the sport of fly-fishing on paper and with a relatively small amount of intervention, the flowing washes can create the effect of rippling water under their own steam!

A few months ago, I was given the opportunity to display paintings at The Greyhound on the Test which resides on the famous River Test.  As the season gets into gear, I am really enjoying studying the lines of the cast - with a relaxed hand and a rigger brush loaded with paint, you can cast your own line across the paper!  I will have a new selection of paintings to deliver in a couple of weeks and, with fingers crossed for good weather, I hope to walk along the river to quietly observe and gather inspiration for more work. 

And what better to finish at the pub for a drink and bite to eat, all in a days work!

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Golden Moment

Sometimes a photo really does capture a Golden Moment and, although this title was a slight play on words, this piece was also a golden moment in my painting world!  With an album of photographs that made it hard to choose which to select, I chose the photo which I felt would best show Sam’s character in a loose watercolour style.

Sadly Sam is no longer with his lovely owners, and I know they are feeling a huge loss and somehow this painting had to be special.   Slowly but surely the image started to appear on the paper and I began to feel hopeful that Sam’s owners would see their lovely dog in watercolour.  Somehow I feel that this won’t be the last time I paint Sam.  There is a lovely photograph of his head resting between the seats of the car and I can feel this one beckoning me to pick up my brushes!

Watercolour is such a magical medium – the loose ethereal washes can really capture a fleeting moment in time and, in this instance, there was some gorgeous back-lighting to the fur and a far away expression in the eyes.  Irresistible!

Thank you to the lovely owners for the opportunity to paint Sam and I hope their painting brings happy memories in time x

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101 Top Techniques for Artists

A good friend once asked me whether I thought he should buy a particular reference book on photography and my advice to him years ago was…..”if you pick up one hint or tip from the book, it will have been worth it!”  He bought the book and reminds me of this comment on many occasion!

I again remembered this when looking through the book that the SAA have compiled.  101 Top Techniques from over 100 international artists…..it’s amazing!  I was totally thrilled to have been asked to contribute and, on my page,  I have explained a technique that I use one way or another in almost every painting, tonal counterchange.

You will gain more than one hint or tip in this book, in fact it’s a treasure box of wonderful, special hints and possible secrets that artists are willing to share in this gem of a book. Although I have now sold all my personal copies of the book, it is available for sale on Amazon.  Happy painting everyone!

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Decisions......

“Dust Bath”  Original Watercolour 560mm x 370mm.  

Prizewinner and Honorary Mention:  Art has no Borders.

When we create a piece of artwork, there are many decisions to make and, in a way, you can liken each to a junction in a road.  Maybe we have a destination in mind, or maybe we are on a mystery tour!  The decisions that we do make, however, should enable each piece of work to be totally unique and your choices regarding medium, technique, colour and composition can make your artwork drive right to the heart of the subject matter.

With this painting, standing at the first junction, I decided to take the watercolour route which would enable me to create the soft effect of the dust bath (with a strong underlying sketch and lots of water)

Reaching a crossroads on colour, I decided to pick the red route.  Why not?

I stood for quite a while at the next junction before deciding which path to take on composition!  The shape of the trunk and tail are crucial to the composition as is the diagonal sweep of red from bottom left to top right.

And finally, my decision to enter a competition…..so pleased I did.  Never be afraid to make decisions!

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