POPPY FIELD STUDY

Developed in stages

The sky area has been reduced in height

Stage 1: minimal pencil guidelines, shown strong for clarity

Stage 2: Begin with a flat sky wash on damp paper.

Later experiment with various combination washes on damp paper except for a few hard edged clouds.

Fade out the sky area with clear water just below the distant hills and trees.

Wait until the sky colours are dry and apply the distant paler colours, the far hill in a single stroke. Lay in the mid distant tonal colours. Poppy field wet into wet except for a few flower heads in the immediate foreground to prevent monotony.

Flower heads may be created by spotting in masking fluid before painting begins. After completing the painting, the masking fluid, drying as cement should be removed, simply by gently rubbing away with a finger tip.

Dark hedgerows and trees with the point and side of a round brush.

I suggest that you experiment and attempt several scenes similar to this.

Cropping lines improve the composition of the SWANS as shown

As a full picture, the background might appear as a vertical wall of water.

Brancaster . Norfolk. By Professional Artist Kenneth Tidd (on line)