By the waters of Leithe...

This is another vrey early painting, based on an atmospheric photograph of a summer scene, pictured on the towpath along the river Leithe in Edinburgh. Ok, it looks like something out of The War of the Worlds, when in fact the photo shows overhanging trees and shrubbery on a high stone wall. it didn't look like anything and I thought to 'turn back'. And yet, it is all practice. The tutor had set us a task in mixing bright colours to see what emerged. She assumed I knew about the colour wheel, primary colours of red, blue and yellow, and their tints mixed with other colours. I hadn't and doing swatches or colour mixes has proved one of the best things I have done to learn. I always refer to them, if I'm seeking a particular shade. They are great too for background coats at the beginning.