Fleet Art Society members so enjoyed Tushar's previous demonstration and summer workshop that he was invited back to give another demonstration of his oil painting skills and techniques.  He explained he usually concentrates on urban subjects, often painting in the streets of London, with a group of other like-minded artists - aptly called 'London Plein Air Painters'.  This time, inspired by the recent Downton Abbey film and Tushar's photo from his family's visit to Highclere Castle, he gave us something a little more rural - but still involving a building!

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He started as before, with a pencil sketch on a primed board, with a mid-tone, grey ground. He explained his colour palette, saying that rural scenes can be quite challenging with all that green.  He likes to mix blues and yellows to make a range of green tones, sometimes adding a touch of sap or viridian to these.

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Using a thick brush and thin paint, he blocked in the castle first, and the trees behind the castle.  He then painted the pale sky, using his finger to blend in some of the blue.  Greens were painted in the large areas of grass, varying the tones where shadows or light fell. He also added light areas to the tops of the trees. Tushar said the pathway was not an important feature, so he toned this down.  Although the castle was in shadow, he said it needed to show its 3D shape, so light and shade on its surface were put in.  One hint he gave:  'never use pure black or white - use them to mix in with other colours'.

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After the break, Tushar changed to a smaller brush and thicker paint to start adding some detail but quoted 'life is too short to be counting windows', so the suggestion of the many windows were painted onto the castle.  He concentrated on the doorway, which was more important.   He painted the tree branches, framing the scene, in dark blues and violet, needing to add more dark pigment particularly where they were over a pale background.  Greens and yellows were painted near the ends of the branches, where light falls.  

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Tushar made the artistic decision to have the two figures walking away from the castle, rather than towards it (as in his photo) and even added a dog for added interest.  Dabs of light on the heads and shoulders brought the figures into relief.

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A very enjoyable, interesting and informative session to begin the 2025/26 season.

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