River Avon at Malmesbury

Here is my latest watercolour of the River Avon at Malmesbury. I always enjoy painting this beautiful spot. The mix of soft greens and gentle light makes it perfect for loose brush work. In this scene, I used simple layers of spring green and touches of viridian for the bushes and fields. For the water, I let soft browns and blues run together to show the shallow flow across the stones. I love how the colours blend on the paper and create natural movement.

The day I painted this, the sky had a soft, broken look with light clouds drifting across. I kept the sky very simple with a light wash and a few darker shapes to suggest depth. I did not want too much detail in the distance because I wanted the viewer’s eye to move along the river and into the scene. A little neutral tint and burnt sienna helped give the banks a warm tone and a feeling of late afternoon light.

I tried to keep the brush strokes loose. I find that when I stop worrying about tiny details, the painting feels more alive. Leaving little bits of untouched paper also helps to show sparkle on the water. This is one of the joys of watercolour. The medium does so much of the work if you let it. I hope the calm feeling of the river comes through in this piece. It is for sale, so please contact me if you would like more information.