Artist’s quest to paint all the old buildings in Bridport

Axminster Art Society’s October’s meeting brought Terry Whitworth to demonstrate his beautiful pen and wash techniques. He set himself the task of painting all the old buildings in Bridport, and took members through the process.

“It is far more interesting to isolate one particular building away from its neighbours,” he told them.

“By looking at it face-on, you are not constrained by perspective, concentrating only on proportions and architectural features.”

With a palette including Van Dyke brown, cadmium red, blue and olive green, Terry also used Indian red and neutral tint to capture the deep red weathered look of the bricks and pillar features as he started painting.

He used a little masking fluid to preserve some of the special features but overall was aiming to work in a free loose style whilst still maintaining the necessary accuracy.

Running a sharp blade along lines of brick and along the lines of tiles enabled the wet paint to fill the grooves and gave an aged look to the building. After painting the windows dark, he changed his thick brush for a rigger to add shadows and highlights around the frames and finally added a transparent wash of cadmium red to warm up the painting.

After tea, Terry drew the cottage that houses the oldest butcher’s shop in the country – RJ Balson and Son - using a fine pen to pick out details. He drew the lettering with masking fluid and showed us how, although line-work almost disappears under paint washes, it still adds definition. The off-white colour of the building suggested a hint of age and again lines drawn with a blade allowed paint to fill in the fractures. The Society’s meeting in the United Reformed Church Hall is on Wednesday, November 15, 2.30pm to 4.30pm, when Amanda Popham - currently exhibiting in The Marine Gallery, in Beer - will be creating her wonderful pottery people.

Members will also be handing in entries for the exhibition in The Lyme Regis Malthouse Gallery , running from Thursday, November 16, to Wednesday, November 22, with a preview on Friday, November 17, from 6pm

For further details see our website www.axminsterartsociety.uk