Bridge at The White Hart Pub, Ford

Sometimes the best subjects are found just around the corner in the English countryside.  I set up my easel near the old stone bridge to capture the quiet water and the bright summer light filtering through the trees.  Painting a scene like this is all about finding the right balance between dark tree shadows and the sunlit bridge wall.  I used a mix of ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the deep shade under the arches, letting the wet paper do most of the work.  The figure walking along the path adds a sense of scale and life to the composition.  For the foliage, a combination of viridian green and yellow ochre gave me the fresh, natural greens I needed without looking too bright.  Capturing the way light dances across the river bank is always a rewarding challenge in watercolour.  If you like this original watercolour painting titled Bridge at The White Hart Pub, Ford, please contact me for more information because it is currently for sale.