A Secret garden - stage 12

In the couple of hours work I managed to do this morning I roughed in the figure (she will be darker than this) and put some more work into the stonework before I had to clear up, next painting session on Saturday.

A Secret Garden - stage 11

While away from the studio I decided that I didn't want the figure to be glowing but instead semi-silhouetted in the moonlight and merging more into the garden. To this end I strengthened the lines on the figure yesterday and then ran a wash over it today to knock it back. I also decided to change the foreground bullrushes to a later part of the season when the spikes become cottony-like, this will be seen at the end of the painting.
The colours are arranged in a warm/cold axis with cold bluish moonlight and warmer desaturated brown/blue/violets for the garden and sky.
Most of today's session was spent painting the stonework of the steps and foreground terrace.

A Secret Garden - stage 10

This is as far as I have got with the painting as of this morning. I will now be away from the studio coming back on Monday when I intend to make a start on the foreground and steps.

A Secret Garden - stage 9

This is another painting that is hard to photograph! I have painted in a large part of the overgrown trees and plants and have now started on the underpainting for the stonework but due to difficult photography conditions this afternoon I can't show the true progress on the painting until tomorrow, this was far I had got until lunchtime today.

A Secret Garden - stage 8

This morning I was able to get some work done on the mid-ground trees and shrubs before I leave the studio for a few days back on Wednesday. Introducing much darker tones now.

A Secret Garden - stage 7

Only managed to get in an hour yesterday and four this morning before bad light stopped me painting during which time I have worked on the kiosk and steps in the mid-ground as well as darkening the areas where the foliage is going to go. Hoping to get a decent painting session tomorrow before being away for a few days from the studio.

Nightmare On Kensington Street sold

"Nightmare On Kensington Street" has just sold through Asgard Arts. This was painted a few years ago for my series of paintings of Brighton where I live in the UK. The whole street  in the North Laine area of Brighton consists of the backs of buildings that have been covered in graffiti art with this one still in place today.
Oil on board 18 1/2" x 18 1/2".