Lighthouse three ways

August 27, 2023

When my friend Catherine was coming to visit in June she said she’d been quite inspired by all the watercolour paintings I’d posted and wouldn’t mind giving it a go. I checked with the instructor to see if she ever did private classes and, if so, how much they might cost. Unfortunately she was preparing for a big show of her own and just couldn’t offer a class that week.

Flash forward a month and my friend Krys is coming to visit from Toronto. As her first post lockdown breakout endeavour, she and her niece had been taking watercolour classes (at the Art Gallery of Ontario, no less). Unlike me, Krys and her niece had continued painting together after the classes ended. She informed me before she came that she intended to pack her travel painting kit and wanted us to do a painting together. Yikes! Oh, but wait, what’s this I spot on Facebook? My instructor is offering a one day workshop while Krys will be here: three different paintings of the local lighthouse, at different times of day, in. different weather. Krys and I sign up for it.

We’re supposed to provide our own supplies, including paper, but I’m almost out. Fortunately, a local gallery has started to carry fancy watercolour paper, a sheet of which Krys purchases. Between this and what I have left from class earlier this year we have enough.

To begin we are all given a copy of the same drawing for the lighthouse and other buildings which we need to trace (using the old HB pencil on the back trick) onto three pieces of watercolour paper.

Then we get started. First up is the lighthouse on an overcast, choppy day.

Next a sunny day.

Finally at night, complete with a shooting star.

After the class we drive over to the point so Krys can take a photo of the lighthouse to show people for comparison with her paintings.

And I take a photo of Krys taking her photo.

When I send all three versions of the lighthouse to my friend in Wales the next day, he says the stormy one is his favourite. This may reflect the stormy state of his mental health, but, yeah, I liked that one, too. Although I think my favourite is the night time one.

Back home in Toronto, Krys has framed and hung her sunny day version. And her son has asked her to frame the starry night version for him. So, a pretty successful day.

Here on the island there has been no framing, but all three are on display on one of the bookcases.

The other day I posted a link on Facebook to the album I’ve created of all the watercolours I’ve done this year, saying that I was thinking of actually having at least one printed as cards and asking which one friends thought I should go for.

The lighthouse at night (despite, as I commented, the wonky flagpole) came out a clear favourite. (What wonky flagpole, asked one friend, who claimed no one but me would ever notice.)

Another favourite was this one.

Krys opted for the rose.

And there seemed to be general agreement that this would work as an all-purpose card.

When I voiced surprise that no one had opted for the Dali apple…

… Krys commented that it was too disturbing. Is it? Hmm. Maybe that’s why it’s one of my favourites. (I might have to have some printed even if no one voted for it.)

As for these two…