This is a realistic landscape painting of St.Ives in north Cornwall, in acrylics.
Although I have attended art classes in the past, I am mainly a self taught artist.What do I paint and why?I paint almost anything that inspires me: from woodland scenes, industrial landscapes, a pile of logs, or some discarded factory machinery.The subjects I choose usually contain different shapes, textures, patterns, and values (lights and darks): trying to capture these is one of the main aims of my art.Trying to capture the effects of light is important to me, and also the changing seasons and the weather inspire me. For example, the way snow transforms of the dull, dirty, monotone landscape of winter into a bright, crisp one full of sharp tonal variation.I come upon my subjects by chance walking around the local towns and countryside, in woodland, farmyards, canal sides, back alleys, parks and old derelict buildings. I don't start out with preconceived subjects: as Picasso said, "I do not seek, I find." (That's my one clever quotation out of the way!)I prefer to work from photographs. Its often not wise to hang around too long in some of my locations!Most of my water colors are painted on smooth hot-pressed papers or boards. These are more forgiving of mistakes, and also give a different effect from tradition rough papers. Sometimes I've combined pen and ink with water color.At the moment I prefer to use acrylics as they give stronger colors and you can be more expressive and spontaneous than with water colors.Please visit my web site at:http://www.davidbyars.co.uk
