Phil has created wonderful atmosphere in this painting.  I like the treatment of the trees. Using negative shapes, he has cut out the images, by painting the background inbetween the trees. The branches on the top left can be improved by using a brush called a rigger. Turn the paper, and working from the bottom of the branch to the top, as you drag the brush, the pressure on the brush will be less and you will make thinner branches.  Also, always make sure the branches connect to each other and are not hanging in the air.  Well done!

This is a photo taken from a framed painting, so it is not very clear, but I like the treatment of the flowers, grouped together.  I like to use a bit of the complimentary colour - purple, in the shadows to make the colours vibrate, and it is a good shadow colour as well.  Well done!

What I like about this is that

you have achieved a good feeling of the form

and the treatment of the squirrel’s

fur is good. Maybe finish it off by putting it

on a log of wood, so that it is sitting on something, with shadows underneath it.

I always take a photo of my work and get it onto my computer, then take the colour away - to judge the tonal values.

Barbar used mixed media to capture

this amusing study of a judge. I love

the use of coffee granules and wax

crayons! Well done!

I was caught out at a demo with no brushes -

so here’s what i painted with a sponge,

plastic spoon and a lot of luck!

(I finished it off a few days later!)

Look no brushes!

This is a view of a canal in the UK and Paul has captured the atmosphere of the dank grey day, with the buildings on the quayside. The reflections in the water could be a little darker and that’s the problem with painting in watercolour. When the paint is wet - it looks darker, but as it dries , it dries lighter

Barbara has worked using one colour and explored all the different tones in this painting  - this is the best way to develop confidence when learning how to paint. She could now take this painting into colour, and use it as a guide. Tones in colours are difficult to achieve and this is step one on the journey.

Barbara used a wonderful wet mixed mediaapproach to this painting. I like the free easy style and the splashes of coffee granules for extra texture! The line drawing pulls out the details - do some more in this style Barbara!

Jennie mastered using  Texture

paste and has painted wonderful

waterdrops of her lilies. I like

the way she has used dark

colours in the background which

emphasises the flowers