12.5.21

Decided to revisit Turner's work, most especially since he actually painted and sketched Morecambe Bay in 1818 and c1826. Although developing my own techniques in interpreting Morecambe Bay, it's fascinating and thrilling to see Turner's watercolour sketches and how he portrayed the sands, sea, mountains and skies here. I really don't like today's painting as it's too twee and representational. The sun crept in after looking at many of Turner's suns. My painting is way too contrived. So today I am dissatisfied all round. Also the colours and tones are completely wrong for the bay. The shadows on the water suggest a lake rather than the sea. Usually I gather scenes from plein-air sketches but this was evoked from the mind. Anyway, it's a ruling out process. How I wish Turner was here.