On the last days, I wanted to escape (and rest) from Figure Drawing. I was looking for a subject I could focus on to practice charcoal studies and which - in the case I was feeling satisfied with the composition - I could use for an oil painting.
Digging in my picture library, I found out some interesting views of Nottingham streets, taken in an early spring afternoon. The sun was casting shadows everywhere, and, in the contrasts, I saw this late 19th century industrial building. Almost like a house... but the workplace was continuing and displaying windows in a dark shadow perspective.
I used it for a loose charcoal drawing:
Street View - Nottingham
The colors we enjoyed in that afternoon were vibrant - I might continue with an oil or a pastel version of this cityscape.
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A quick note on Last weekend visit to the 2015 BP Portrait award.
I pay a visit to this exhibition every year since a I settled in the UK. For this year, I really enjoyed, Dragos Badita's work - interesting perspective an expressive composition - and as well Felicia Forte - a composition reminding some of Rembrandt's or Gauguin's self portraits, yet with a color harmony I really enjoyed : a beautiful use if oil medium.
For many works though, the photographic aspect is taking over the expression and the medium. Artists have remarkable skills! they are spectacular! yet, I went out of the exhibition wandering if the details displayed could have been conveyed with more emotion and on a more natural way with... a good photograph.
I guess there is no good answer to that question, but I would seek for something different with the mediums I use so far.