Friday 20 February 2009

All Routes South

All Routes South
Artist quality watercolours on watercolour paper
11.7" x 8.3"
In this watercolour, I have tried to capture the almost magical, softening effects that a snowfall can have on an otherwise ordinary street scene. The location is Mansfield Road, Nottingham, just up from the Victoria Centre. The snow was being blown around by strong winds, and I was wet and cold. How wonderful it would have been to be able to follow sign's directions, to the South and the warm sun!
For those of you who are interested here is the original photo I used as a reference for the painting.


You can see the changes I have made in interpreting the photo as a painting. For instance, I decided to leave out the main lamppost. I just didn't like the way it divided up the painting. As the snow was being blown around rather ferociously by the wind the camera wasn't really able to capture the falling snow effectively. Also a photo can never quite capture the mood that a scene like this imparts. This can only come from the artist's genuine interpretation of the scene.
If you are interested in purchasing this work, please take a look at my Etsy shop.

20 comments:

Marian Fortunati said...

Hi John....

I like the way you've sort of made the bus disappear in the snowy atmosphere.
It is a gorgeous day here and your paintings remind me that I am SO glad I don't live in the snow..... although... I do love the look an feel of it .... for short periods of time.

storybeader said...

really like what you did with the watercolors.

Anita Davies said...

Deffinately captured a sowfall here and I LOVE your bus

Unknown said...

Hi Marian, storybeader and Anita. Thanks for your comments.
Yes, the bus does have a rather mysterious and ghostly appearance. I really love what snow does to our everyday surroundings - well, for a couple of days anyway!!

On a Whimsey said...

I just love the atmosphere you have created in your wonderful painting. I can feel the snowflakes tickling my nose!

TOMAS said...

Wow, just magical changes took place in your watercolor. The sunlight was added - you paint with the heart and thus the miracles happen while viewing your artworks: even the snow warms the heart in your works. I like it very much.

Anonymous said...

It was a good idea to show the photograph that you worked from. It makes the journey interesting for the viewer. Like the way you interpreted the scene. You nailed to soft snowy feeling.
Jean

Anonymous said...

Another wonderful painting and very interesting article showing the photo vs. your interpretation.

Meghann said...

I love how you brought this winter wonderland to life, while simultaneously warming it up a bit - most winter scenes are 'dead' cold, but this is so pleasing to look at - I wish our winters were that lovely!
I hope it finds a happy home soon - your paintings are beautiful :)

Amel said...

Actually I like your interpretation more than the actual picture he he he he he...BRILLIANT!!!

Mark Alan Meader said...

John, definitely prefer your interpretation of the scene vs. the photo; that's the advantage to being a painter... you can start from the reality and go wherever your vision takes you. I thinks it's good to show people the thought process behind the piece once in a while. Nice atmosphere and excellent work, as always.

SouthBostonBooks said...

Wonderful job on this piece.

James

Sharkbytes said...

Ha! I think this is funnier in the US. You can't go far enough south in the UK to escape the snow, can you?

The lady in Red said...

Dear John, wow, very nice and original post. The drawing is a masterpiece, light, smooth, it give us PEACE!

Best wishes,
Rosana

Unknown said...

Thank you all for your wonderful comments. It's so encouraging to know that you appreciate my work.

Unknown said...

Hi John, this is a very nice humorous take on an otherwise uninteresting and trivial scene - you made something out of it. Very well done!
Greetings, Petra

Patrice said...

Again, you have taken a simple but dramatically angular street scene, and turned it into an entirely different world.

I love the colors.

By the by - be sure to check out my latest rabbit hole post... ;-)

Unknown said...

Petra - yes it always fascinates me how art can transform a scene.

Patrice - thanks for all your recent comments and the rabbit hole post is just great.

Thanks for your comment Emila.

Every Photo Tells A Story said...

Beautiful painting, John! And showing it next to the photograph allows the viewer to see exactly what your interpretation was. I'll go with yours any day. Great idea, and your blog looks great, too:)

Unknown said...

Hi Nancy.
It makes an interesting comparison and certainly demonstrates the transforming power of art.