On 27th June we had enormous pleasure in welcoming Phil Biggs to Charnwood Drawing and Painting Club.
Phil, who lives and paints in Lincolnshire, re created a wonderful landscape in the Lake District, the beauty of which he adores and which he has painted many times.
It’s fair to say that Phil paints in a very traditional way that shuns gimmicks. He says his influences are Turner and the old masters, but he has clearly developed a unique style using light and atmosphere creating a breathtaking scene near Lowswater looking down the Pike, amazingly finished in two hours!
Phil applied Windsor and Newton tube paints on to 300lb Saunderswater paper which he likes with a rough texture. Working top-down using a Devinci Squirrel brush for the sky he used Burnt Umber and Paynes Grey beginning with a wash. Working down the page using his familiar size 12 Windsor and Newton brush he painted the hills dark-to-light creating stark crags and rising mists.
He showed a unique ability to bring a rather ‘brooding’ scene to life with some deft brush strokes whilst at the same time chatting constantly and answering our questions in a humorous and engaging style.
Surprisingly the demonstration involved limited drawing and painting directly onto canvas from the palette (which he kept scrupulously clean) applying plenty of water onto pre-stretched canvas.
Phil created his picture from a fairly restricted palette of 3 yellows, 4 reds and 3 blues working steadily to capture the drama of a what was stormy scene. His tips included: sticking with imperial sized papers; locating the light source; and knowing when and where to paint light or dark.
All present found the presentation rewarding and entertaining and an occasion to remember. Thanks Phil for a truly great evening!