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WATER COLOUR UNITED KINGDOM

MASTER PAINTERS OF THE WORLD

David Walker

Finding poetic beauty

ost of my paintings have
Mthe built environment
as their subject. Once I identify
a place, I will take numerous
photographs and make some
sketches. I usually have an
intuitive feeling about the
place, but I need to explore it
for some time before I arrive at
a composition that captures the
feeling I had. is may involve

some editing or adjustments to
the view to enhance the impact
whilst retaining its essence.
Light and the quality of light
are usually key factors in the
piece, as the subjects are often
fairly mundane in themselves.
I try to avoid grand, heroic
places and I am nearly always

striving to nd a simple poetic
beauty in the paintings.
I am careful with the
placement of the drawing on
the paper, whilst trying not
to draw too much. I think of
the major shapes in abstract
terms such that they form a
satisfying composition before
the introduction of any detail.
I start with general washes
to establish the warmer tones colour, variety of edges, sharp, Morning in the City, watercolour, 47 x 47 cm (18½ x 18½")

and highlights. I use a limited soft and tonal accuracy whilst The financial district of London, “the City,” has an interesting variety of
palette, usually with a warm always being on the lookout buildings. I was struck by the church nestled between two corporate
and cool version of the three for unintentional events and buildings and its blank street frontage. I made some changes to the shadow
primaries. I sometimes add mistakes that I can use to the cast across the building. I wanted a strong wandering line to cut across
burnt sienna and burnt umber advantage of the painting. the intricate architectural detail. I also liked the idea of the activity in the
painting happening within the dark shadow area.

for darkening and, occasionally, e nal stage is selectively

viridian green. e detail is enhancing detail and adding
built up with washes, taking subtle glazes to adjust colour
care to maintain the balance of and value.
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