I’m planning to eventually do a painting based on the Semer Water story (Where the village gets cursed and flooded save only one charitable couple and their house). With that in mind I thought I’d do a few preliminary quick sketches and test run the limited palette I’m going to use. I’ll probably do this image as an acrylic before executing the final story painting.

Photos never seem to do justice to the immense hills of the Yorkshire Dales – many of which could swallow whole cities and not notice it. These hills are anything but quaint and rolling! I specifically drove up to Raydale/Wensleydale (via Wharfedale) to Semer Water on a thundery day – to get the real feel of the immensity and power of the hills in these conditions. When the clouds rolled in it was anything but gentle. So, i’ll be giving an emotive response to the subject and will endeavour, if its ever possible, to relate the size and drama of Green Scar hill on a stormy day. It’ll be interesting to see how the concept develops in paint.. this is primarily just a quick information gathering exercise.

Enjoy.

Julia

Green Scar Hill, Nr Semer Water, Yorkshire. Charcoal sketch. Click for a full view.