Bathed in Winter Sun

This is the postbox behind the Bartholomew Rooms. Here it glows in the little sun to reach it in this shaded area. I painted the canvas with acrylic gold following on from my success with St Leonard's House using this technique. I am still painting on the small 10.8 x 12.0 cms coarse canvas which does not allow for much detail.

Post Box behind Bartholomew Rooms

I improved this sketch in Photoshop by making more contrast between the darks and lights. I find it difficult to get this contrast when sketching with pencil. It is interesting to see that the tonal difference between the red of the box and the warm honey of the stone behind is very close.

'Post Box"

I have started using 'Artisan Water Mixable Fast Drying Medium' for the glazing in this painting. Gosh it was fun. It was a good consistency to mix with the paint and dried quickly to a shiny glaze. The gold of the initial background layer shines through the glazes of the red post boxes. The only moan is that it was a little too fast drying for my slow painting.

The relief at being back and using a Mac is huge. This is tempered by having to learn how to use all the upgraded applications which is slowing me down.

Postbox & Gothic House - Mill Street - Process

What excites me about this door series has been the notion of 'edge' or 'boundary'. This can mean the door as a line between public and private or the edge of dark and light in the shadows. The closed door present one face but the other side could be the far side of the galaxy. The dark shadow hides texture but defines a structure.

The Postbox stands outside the Post Office next to the Betting Shop. It's slot is entrance to missives for the world and the dark shape of the door to the Betting Shop a dangerous place of dreams and excitement.

The Gothic House has been recently refurbished but the front door is a public face looking down Newlands and it yells "look at me". The Victorians intended this to stand for status but the refurbished look hides all sense of the personal. I have been delight to find that the various changes of light here show radical changes of colours and moods. I can not show the wrought iron balcony above the door because the detail is to complex for the small canvases of this series so I shall show the drama of sun and shadows. In the future it would be good to paint again with the cool of the evening light and show the balcony.