I’ve been painting again today – after I’d potted on my leeks… This time, I’ve gone for Raglan Castle, in Monmouthshire. You might note, in comparison to my painting of Caernarfon Castle yesterday, that the light is coming from the opposite direction. There is method in this madness – the paintings are to hang opposite each other on either side of the room. Thus, the light, and the shadows, will look as if they are from the same direction.

Ok, ok, it was a happy accident that I noticed the above before I started hanging the paintings. Now I will go back to my reference materials and check that the remaining four of the series are split 50/50 in light direction. It was one of those ‘oh no’ moments that turned into ‘well, of course, I meant to do that’ when no one was looking…

I’ve used for this painting

• Generic stretched canvas, 60x60cm
• Liquitex Professional Spray Paint: Parchment / Brilliant Purple / Dioxazine Purple
• Black and White Gesso
• DecoArt Media Ultra Matte Varnish

I particularly like the punch holes through the building, as they lead the eye straight out to the sky beyond. They provide impact to the ramparts on the gate house, whereas the gate and arch are lost in the deep shadow. Most of all, there are Just enough hints to say this is a ruin rather than an intact stately home. The perspective on this one was tricky – I really ought to dig out my college stuff and brush up on the ‘proper’ way of doing it…