West Mersea Boats
SKETCHES FORCOMPOSITION
JOHN KAY
The Millrind Press
SKETCHES FOR COMPOSITION
John Kay
Copyright © John Kay 2003
Design & Layout byJohn Kay
Published and printed in Minion by
The Millrind Press22 Hall Road, Fordham, Colchester, Essex CO6 3NQ
All rights reservedNo part of this book may be reproduced or utilized inany form or by any means, electrical or mechanical,without express permission in writing from the au-thor.
ISBN 1 902194 10 1
SKETCHES FORCOMPOSITION
JOHN KAY
This is a collection of some of what I consider to be mybest compositional sketches. Most of them have beenused as the basis for later paintings. Many of thesewere painted under a time restriction, that is as dem-onstrations before a critical art club audience. I mustlike to live dangerously!I have always maintained, as have most of the artiststhat I admire, that it is almost impossible, when work-ing in the field or studio to embark on a paintingwithout some form of preliminary sketch, no matterhow perfunctory or crude it is some attempt should bemade to organise the tones and shapes to make asatisfactory statement before tackling the finishedpainting. In my experience, the selection of colour issomething that can happily be left to a later stage. Thesecret of all painting, but most particularly watercol-our, is to think a lot and plan out your next move verycarefully before rushing into its execution.
The Millrind PressISBN 1 902194 10 1
2003
Sketches for Composition
4
Street in Cambridge
E. Bergholt Church, South side
Sketches for Composition
5
Tonal Variations
Grassington, farmhouse
Sketches for Composition
6
The Harbour, Honfleur
General Store, Naxos
Sketches for Composition
7
Jumbo, Colchester
From Maldon Yacht Club
Sketches for Composition
8
Ellisdon’s Cafe, Stirling
Addington Common
Sketches for Composition
9
Aldeburgh Sea Front
House in Aldeburgh
Sketches for Composition
10
Anstruther, Fife
Droitwich Centre
Sketches for Composition
11
Brightlingsea High Street
E. Bergholt Church, North Side
Sketches for Composition
12
The Backs and Kings College, Cambridge
Thumbnail Sketches Colchester
Sketches for Composition
13
Anzy le Duc
Grassmere Farm, Little Cornard
Sketches for Composition
14
The Moat, Moat House, Fordham
Monastiraki, Athens
Sketches for Composition
15
Moraira, Costa Blanca
The Riverside, Knaresborough
Sketches for Composition
16
The Railway Viaduct, Knaresborough
Market Day, Knaresborough
Sketches for Composition
17
High Street, Newport-on-Tay, Fife
Riverview, Newport-on-Tay
Sketches for Composition
18
Pittenweem, Fife
The Plaka, Athens
Sketches for Composition
19
Business meeting
High Street, Castle Hedingham
Sketches for Composition
20
Still Life Demonstration
Hotel Svon Marienbad
Sketches for Composition
21
Trinity Street, Colchester
The Monastery, Valdemosa, Mallorca
Sketches for Composition
22
Wells Yacht Club, Norfolk
Willie Lot’s Cottage
Sketches for Composition
23
Tonal Study, Ford Street Bridge, Fordham
Wivenhoe Boats
Sketches for Composition
24
Flatford Mill
E.Bergholt Church
Sketches for Composition
25
Peralta Terrace, Tuscany
Tractor, Grassmere Farm, Little Cornard
Sketches for Composition
26
Maldon High Street
Wharfedale Village
The Millrind PressISBN 1 902194 10 1