Tuesday 17 June, live demo by Ian McManus – Street Scene in Watercolour, 7.30pm Centre 70
Ian McManus is a professional artist specialising in watercolour.
Ian took us through painting a street scene of Piccadilly Circus. He uses heavyweight wood pulp paper taped onto board. He started with a pencil sketch using Faber Castle 2B clutch lead. He started with the background buildings, seeking the tones, keeping the paper moist with a fine water spray. He spoke of “less is more” and using a restricted palette. The finer details of windows were placed using darker tones on dry paper.
After the tea-break he moved to the foreground, picking out some but not all figures from the photo. The famous statue, fountain and lampposts were added. Finally the wet pavement effects were adeptly added.
Thank you Ian.
His atmospheric paintings capture a moment in time from daily life. He paints street scenes bustling with figures and the hubbub of everyday life. He strives to catch the energy and essence of a location through lively application of paint using direct brushwork, without overlays of washes normally associated with watercolour painting; he believes this gives each finished painting transparency and freedom of expression. Painting Plein Air where possible, he constantly seeks locations and subjects with an interesting narrative and focal point, chasing the effects of natural light and shade, very much as the impressionist painters who are a great inspiration to him.
Ian’s website is www.ianmichaelmcmanus.com
Free to members. Non-members welcome (£5 payable on the night).
To reserve your place at Centre 70, please email admin@wallingfordartclub.org.uk
