I was never much of a fan of the 18th / 19th century British landscape painter John Constable. I grew up in a time when his work was popular on biscuit tins and chocolate boxes and I guess that familiarity breeds contempt. So copying this cloud study with Ed Sumner’s Cheese and Wine Painting Club was a real eye-opener. Constable made about 50 spectacular oil sketches of clouds in 1821 – 1822. He was very scientific in his approach and wrote notes on the back of the paintings about the conditions, the light and time of day; he was influenced by the pioneering “Father of Meteorology”, Luke Howard.
I started the painting on a textured canvas. I don’t like to waste anything so when I have some paint left over at the end of a session I scrape it onto a spare canvas and over the weeks it builds up layers of colour and texture. When I want to use it, I paint over it with some white acrylic or whatever colour is going to be the base coat of the painting. It gives me a head start on a heavily textured work like this one …. and I recycle paint I would otherwise have thrown away.
I’ve painted this with Liquitex Heavy Body acrylic paints onto stretched canvas and I’m offering it for sale to raise money for LATCH: The Children’s Cancer Charity. To find out more, and see a short time-lapse film of me painting “Cloud Study”, please click on the painting below.
LATCH, The Children’s Cancer Charity, Painting Fundraiser
I’ve been painting these ‘fakes’ with Ed Sumner’s Cheese and Wine Painting Club on Facebook since lockdown started in Spring 2020. I’m selling some of them to raise funds for this lovely charity which has given so much support to my young relative over the past few years.
If you would like to see the paintings and maybe buy one, please click on the boats picture to visit the page. Thanks xxx
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Constables cloud studies are stunning. I have seen a small number “up close and personal” as one of my friend says.
How wonderful. I’ve really changed my opinion on his work
It’s so easy to be lulled into a false sense of knowing an artist when in reality most of us only see their famous works on high repeat. While in lockdown I am trying to do more reading in my own, rather extensive collection of partially read art books. I have been, rather embarrassingly, amazed at what I have missed. 😄
This is wonderful. I love the story behind the work. The fact that you are donating to charity is beautiful as well. You’re a lovely human! 🌹♥️
Thank you so much 🙂