Two weeks ago, my watercolour class at Morley College had a topic of trying experimental approaches in larger scale.  One of the artists we were introduced to was Lena Gemzoe, including a video of her at work, working on very wet paper, pigment applied mostly with a plastic card.  I had a go at this, and here are two paintings I did, above and below:

Now because of restrictions in London because of the coronavirus pandemic, I am working at home and the college is trying to offer virtual classes for the last couple of weeks.  I wanted to apply this freer approach to a real-world subject, without being too preoccupied with accuracy.  I am working on a project I have called ‘Landscape and Memory’, painting places I know but cannot visit.  Initially I have started with some of my photographs of the Peak District in Derbyshire, a place I have often walked with friends.  Here is the first:

Today I have done two more, which are below.  I don’t think either of these are particularly good, but attempting to take a more free approach means trying things which may not work, and learning from that.  The second one, below, in particular, is bigger than I usually work, and I think that shows, especially the rather ’empty’ centre.  I am also trying to resist adding more controlled detail at a later stage.