Gillygate again

This is the second in a series of paintings of cities, mostly York, that I plan to do. It is also from one of the photographs that I took last Saturday.
Again it is oil on board, 30x30cm.

Stage 1: After an initial thumbnail sketch in my book to work out the composition, I map out the main shapes. 

....next step is blocking in the big shapes. there is not much drawing in my paintings - I find it too restrictive.

 ...mapping out the main tones...

...starting to pick oput a few details...

....a few more details and it's starting to come together...

That'll do.

'Gillygate'

York

I went into York on Saturday, whilst Sara took Archie and Joey to Waterworld. The light was great and I managed to get a few reasonable photos, mostly looking into the sun. I intend to make a series of paintings of York, and will use some of these for reference.
I did the first of them today, as an oil sketch. It is of Gillygate, and is painted contre-jour (against the light).
Here it is in three stages:

Blocking in on a burnt umber ground.

...most of the main tones and shapes mapped out..

Gillygate, ContreJour

When Saturday Comes.

After tiling for the last two week ends, it was good to have saturday free day to pick up my paints again. The day was beautiful, but rather than go out (very tempting), I decided to stay in and paint. I worked from a photo taken last year in Topsham when we visited Matt and Gilly. That day was overcast, with a low hanging cloud.....just like sunday, when I did go out.