Advancing with Watercolor: Hillside Cemetery

About the author
Gary Tucker is a watercolor artist/ instructor living in the Boston area. He offers online workshops , in person workshops, and a catalogue of watercolor videos on technique and design
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Description
Why a Cemetery?
Indeed why a cemetery - it see rather a dark subject - not conducive to creative thought.Once you get past that initial thought a cemetery is often a very well thought out place or reflection and observation, and we can see some wonderful examples of landscape architecture. We found ourselves painting on the old hillside cemetery in Lincoln MA.
I suppose that I can justify painting anywhere as an excuse to paint light and shadow :)
The day in Lincoln
The visit to the cemetery was unexpected but ended up being an interesting motif - the scene was on a hillside in mid October - the autumn color had taken hold and there was a stiff breeze coming up the hill. Several of us became interested in an old oak tree whose branches spread out over the wall and into the cemetery. She was a sapling when the cemetery was first laid out but had grown into a mighty caretaker whose limbs breached the low stone wall and cast rolling shadows across the grounds. The light was the pale yellow tinged light of mid October - your face warms when you face the sun but the back of your neck remains cool. This light fell across the whole scene and glinted off the fallen leaves and weathered Quality of light The light whited washed over the the grounds was golden and I would re create the light with graded washes - The mother color in this instance is the yellow ochre which pervades the scene. The quality of the light is carried by the graded washes which form the sky background and foreground…. These would form the base of the watercolor. The Shadows cast along the ground would strengthen the light and the suns low relation to the hillside - The old oak offered some opportunities for brush play and shadows…
In fact the painting became somewhat of a portrait of the oak - some of the branches still had leaves but mostly they lay strewn upon the ground this offered an opportunity to sketch the wide branches which had a marvelous gesture to them - If I return t will be to marble at this oak tree again…

[@saraht4973]

A fabulous tutorial ❤. That big old tree is absolutely marvelous and this scene. You’re a masterful teacher. Thank you

[@gailcheck8611]

Another fabulous tutorial, from beginning to the final brush stroke!

[@MsHenifer]

Another awesome video! I so appreciate your instruction, insight and vocabulary. Thanks again for taking time to create and share!

[@barbaragemin5117]

That tree is wonderful Gary. I admire how your light, brief strokes give a natural look. Obviously they have to be well- placed too, which is not easy. You’re an excellent teacher aside from being such a good artist. I always take away something from each tutorial. Today connections were important (something we tend to forget) and composition. A photo is not a painting and vice versa. Thank you very much for your patience.