Recently, I have been working from a set of photographs taken on a walk through the mountains at Bwlch Nant Yr Arian. This will form my ‘Mountain Trail’ series of works!
As I’m at home, completely detached from my subject, I’ve had to rely on these images in order to represent the Welsh Landscape. It has been difficult, as Aberystwyth’s surroundings have been my sole inspiration but I have been able to reflect its most prominent features through my paintings.
I completed a charcoal drawing before starting, as this approach has proved to be beneficial throughout the semester: enabling me to work out beforehand whether the composition will work as a painting. The monotone study displays the varying tones of the scene, describing the effectiveness of each element within the composition.
If, when I complete these drawings, I realise that the composition does not consist of variable tones, I will ensure that I do this when it comes to colour mixing. A composition which does not consist of a variety of balanced tones will not work as successfully to highlight the focal point (as I have found in previous paintings!). In order to create a more varied composition of tones (make areas of my painting lighter/darker) which compliment the focal point, I will mix the colours and apply in layers until I reach the desired effect!
I’m not convinced that the painting is finished so far, needing several more layers of paint in order for the composition to work as a whole. I will continue to work on this painting, alongside others, in the hope that they will inform my next steps of progress!
Adalia Mynett 