Another day out with the paints, this time on the banks of the Thames near Chiswick Bridge. Once again I was to meet up with the Wapping group, this time with more success… Having looked at the satellite weather the previous evening I was led to the conclusion morning would be good. When my alarm rang I didn’t feel so keen though, but dragged myself out of bed nonetheless and loaded the car. Well worth it once I was sat down though the light was beautiful and the sky clear, with the bridge looking white and elegant over the sparkling river.
The first view that took my eye was past the bridge, the early morning sun was sparkling off the river and the bridge looked very dramatic “contre-jour”. By happy chance some steps ran down to the water’s edge, plainly installed by the painter’s convenience board of works. On the down side the water had only just dropped below the level of the steps so I was doomed to sit in 3 inches of Thames mud! The range of colours was astonishing and I was hard pressed not to have the end result too garish, morning hues always have a greener tint than the evening, though whether that is really the case I don’t know. Looking into the sun can be very hard and I had to constantly shield my eyes and peer through my curled hand to try and establish the right tonal values. When I started the water was smooth but the wind got up and I decided that I liked the ruffled surface better so had to scrape off and repaint.
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To complete the set I stood in some more fresh mud to paint the bridge from the other side. The wind had brought along clouds which helped the scene by contrasting with the brilliant white of the portland stone of the bridge. One disadvantage with morning painting is that the light tends to get worse as you paint, rather than improve as it often does in the evening. I have a good photo of this taken in a very brief moment when the foreground was lit, so I might do another combining the two. Later in the day Steven, one of the Wapping group, did a beautiful painting from the same spot.
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I have been trying to do a few watercolours of late as I have rather let adding to my watercolour sketchbooks lapse. So I sat down in yet more Thames mud, this time garnished with gravel, to paint the bridge from further away. My low stool sank slowly into the ooze as I painted so after a while I had to find a couple of flat rocks to support me. Not quite as fluent with the watercolour as I used to be, so I must do more.
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There were quite a few Wapping group members starting to paint as I made my way back to the pub, but after saying my hellos I went to eat as I was breakfastless and famished. I can never resist sketching the customers discreetly, these four retired gentlemen made a great subject to sketch as I waited for my fish and chips.
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The light was not great for this, or that’s my excuse, but the old brewery looming up was dramatic and interesting. I didn’t linger over this one as I didn’t really think the subject merited it. I might well return to paint it again and try and do it more justice.
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By now the day had flown and with it the sunshine and rain was threatening, but fortified by a cup of strong coffee I started to paint the pub. I liked the way the bright paintwork contrasted with the looming presence of the brewery next door. A couple of fellow painters stopped to pass comment and as luck would have it my painting stool of 30 years standing failed and dumped me on my back amongst the dock leaves. As the laughter faded I couldn’t help thinking it would have been much worse earlier on when 6ins of slime would have been my fate!
