Watercolours

Watercolour is a sophisticated medium. There is no room for mistakes. In his childhood it was the only form of paint that Dad had available. He really began to understand its qualities when he first saw Turner's work at Farnley Hall. After experimenting with it a bit he found that oil paint with its almost sculptural textures suited his form of expression best. So there are not so many examples of watercolour overall in his output.

From My Attic Window, 8 Mornington Villas, Bradford (1919)

watercolour on paper

For a 16-year old this is perhaps hardly exceptional stuff. But by now he was already beginning to experiment with oil paint and this picture shows his understanding of the main differences in the two mediums. It is suggestive and not explicit…. really it is only the telegraph poles which get detailed treatment and the chimney with its interesting shadow. This may have been painted as a sort of farewell to Bradford as the family moved shortly to Ilkley on account of his mother’s health.

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Ship on Fire (1914)

watercolour on paper

Dad was 11 when he painted this. Certainly not a masterpiece in any sense, but there is more subtlety than might first appear. There is a gap between the sky and the sea and he chose quite different colours for them. The ship itself is just suggested by the smoke issuing from it (with various splodges of watery paint) but it is enough to be convincing. I love the waves which make me smile with their rhythm, and he has used a stronger blue to suggest the troughs between the waves.