Shoot it, Sketch it: The colour of snow

May 13, 2013September 11, 2018 | Anna Cull

The colour of snow – acrylic on canvas, 315 x 315 mm, 2013. — The Colour of Snow – acrylic on canvas, 315 x 315 mm, 2013.

The colour of snow, detail, to give you a better idea of the texture. — The Colour of Snow, detail – click on the image to get an even better idea of the texture.

Spreydon Domain, original photo – Christchurch, 2011.

When Christchurch became a winter wonderland a couple of years ago, we hopped in the car, drove around the corner, took a few photos of the park looking as pretty as a picture, discovered the car was stuck in the snow, dug the car out of the snow (with a little help from the neighbours) and drove home again. The next time we get this much snow, I think I’ll venture out on foot.

I’ve never painted on stretched canvas before ― and I’m in love… with the woven texture, the way it bounces with every brush stroke and the way it takes layer after layer (after layer) of paint. I’m getting ready to paint my first commissioned artwork! It’s going to be a triptych on canvas and so a little practice beforehand seemed like a good idea.

Shoot it, Sketch it: Sunlight is green

May 6, 2013February 11, 2014 | Anna Cull

Sunlight is green – acrylic on watercolour paper, 205 x 295 mm, 2013.

Here, as promised, is my painting of the sunset in Hagley Park (taken from the same photo I sketched last week). If you’re wondering about the title, it was inspired by something I read in The Acrylic Artist’s Guide to Exceptional Colour by Lexi Sundell. Apparently there is research to suggest that sunlight is not yellow but pale green. Think about that for a minute. Green is a cool colour but sunlight is warm. Other research suggests it may be pale blue. Whatever it is, it seems sunlight is not a warm colour. I don’t know about you but that thought really messes with my head.