Original artwork description:

Like the proverbial iceberg, 90% of the work that went into this painting is hidden. To capture a photographic image from which to work requires about 10 early morning, windless visits to Amsterdam in midsummer, when the sun is high enough above the houses to ensure good light, but before the tourist boats start churning the water. To get a fluid, abstract effect the water needs to be moving - just not too much. Paddling water birds create creamy optimum ripples, closely followed by jumping fish, gently heaving a sleeping drunken student into the canal or a minor earthquake in Belgium. Amsterdam canal houses are mostly 50 shades of beige but welcome splashes of colour are injected into the scene by boats, cars, Heineken van, advertising hoardings, tarpaulins and portable builders toilets. The artist generally takes about 1500 shots per season and only manages one or two pictures like this a year. Painting the picture is actually the easy bit.

Materials used:

Acrylics

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