Internal tributaries. (Men of art and war).

I am always amazed at how a remark, a book, a television programme for example, can light up little bulbs in our brains and we might then follow those connections to some long forgotten memory, or perhaps it introduces us to something new and exciting. I have had one of those lunchtimes!

Last week in my Friday afternoon group, we looked at a series of photos and paintings of snow! Yes, you would think that we have had enough of it! But for the next 2 weeks we will be looking at snow. Primarily this is to reinforce those rules of watercolour that were so remorselessly entrenched in my brain while studying with Clare Shepherd. She, like many masters of watercolour, has an inate ability to 'capture the white, or light space'.

One of the paintings we looked at was by John Nash. I think Clare must have introduced me to both Paul and John Nash, particularly 'The Cornfield', which is now one of my most loved paintings.

But this painting is called 'Wild Garden, Winter'.

I can remember Clare talking about the negative and positive areas within the image. She may have used it in class, but unfortunately I missed that! Anyway, one of my students suddenly suggested that rather than looking at snow generally, perhaps we could just look at the building within the picture and practice all those negative and positives, wonderful. So here I am, I have scanned and copied some of the picture that we are going to be concerned about.

While I was doing this, I thought why not have a look and just check any of Paul Nash's watercolours, hence the Orchard, 1914. There is a wonderful exhibition of Paul's work at the Dulwich, so I am going to organise a student outing, we can then go to Van Gogh or the Henry Moore - oh dear , how to decide? I just love the tube drawings of Henry Moore, and was quite shocked when it was suggested that these might actually be dead bodies sketched and then put into the tube station scene. Is this true I wonder?

Whilst searching, I came across Charles Rennie Mackintosh. I expect you are all familiar with his chairs and stain glass windows etc, but yes, he was an amazing watercolourist. I have two picture postcards, pinned to the back of my shed. I think they have been there from that first day, when I entered my brand new shed and decorated it with all my little scraps of inspiration. These watercolours are exquisite in their composition and design detail. In later life he moved to France and spent about 5 years there, returning to his love of watercolours. When he came back he was diagnosed with throat and tongue cancer and died a few months later at the age of 60.

The trees of Paul Nash then took me to Eric Ravillious. I wonder why these young men's paintings fascinate me so, but they do. I think it is because they are clear and concise representations of the country they loved. It is not over worked but sharp, I aspire to work like this. It is what makes me get in the shed! They also have such fascinating life stories!

I am working on a painting of the old roman road from Shapwick to Badbury Rings. We went to The Anchor with friends the other night. I would have driven through Langton, but Paul went Badbury Rings way and down this road to Shapwick. There was driving rain and it was bleak, but as soon as we were travelling down it, I knew that it would be a great place to come back to. I did, first thing Monday morning, I found the perfect spot to sketch. Having looked at these pictures I think I ought to go back again!

So Eric Ravillious, Chalk Paths. What a beautiful painting. the sweep of the paths, the undulating hills. Look at those crisp and concise light areas. Oh, if only I had 2 more hours instead of 1 until Harry gets home!

Eric studied under Paul Nash, I presume at the Slade? He also was a war artist. He died aged 39, in the RAF, while undertaking a sea rescue mission off of Iceland. What a terrible waste. He is another artist whom I will have to research, to find an exhibition of his works, to take my students to see.

The memories of Clare's 'light spaces' has reintroduced Eric to me, and also embarked me on a new journey. Just like John Nash's negative and positive tree lines, as you try to unravel the technicalities of watercolour, you will go from long learnt lessons into new explorations!