Workshop: Lindsey Cole - Winter Berries 2

Using a water spray to diffuse the paint.

Tilting the board to allow the trickles to run into the texture you’ve made in the gesso.

Lindsey started off by recapping her demo of winter berries. She started by adding a layer of gesso, which she textured by scratching, combing and impressing fabric. Then we followed her lead.

After drying, (the hair dryers got a lot of exercise in this workshop!), we added a wash of pale colours as the base layer. After drying, we trickled on inks (paynes grey and sepia), using a fine water spray to diffuse the colour and allow it to run into the cracks and crevices, tipping and tilting her board to encourage the direction of the paint.

Drying again, then, using a fine rigger or pin bottle working into the trickle marks to bring out a design. More drying, more thinking, then applying a thin wash of white over certain areas.

Dry, repeat the process until the background offers interesting possibilities.

Then it was time to add some focal points. Many chose berries but there were other winter-themed ideas. After this, perhaps add some texture paste, impressing lace or bubble wrap, then paint over, adding to the richness of the painting.

Enhancing the patterns emerging in the paint. Adding some fine lines using a tigger,

This was an intensive, thoroughly enjoyable workshop. It took most of us out of our comfort zones and encouraged us to develop fresh skills, allowing us to produce richly textured paintings by exploring paint effects.

While we did use picture references, they were a point of departure allowing us to decide on a palette, light direction and initial design.

Dry again, repeat the process until completely satisfied - for now.

Lindsey adds some red berries onto a patch of soft red.

The sharp detail acts as a focal point.

Bright white berries freckled against the shadows.

Seedheads within autumnal foliage.

Berries emerging from a tangle of twigs. Bright red with tiny dabs of shine really singing against the blues and greys.

This was an intensive, thoroughly enjoyable workshop. It took most of us out of our comfort zones and encouraged us to develop fresh skills, allowing us to produce richly textured paintings by exploring paint effects.

While we did use picture references, they were a point of departure allowing us to decide on a palette, light direction and initial design.