L & B Oil Painting

[Dave Cooper]

Hi All,

A plea for a bit of help : I'm currently working on an oil painting based on the Lynton & Barnstaple narrow gauge line.

I have a loco plus two coaches appearing from the bottom left and moving towards top right. In the foreground is another track plus a siding with turnouts to service all. Hence, there is 'dual-perspective' involved with getting the sleepers to look 'right'. At the extreme top right, the track sweeps gently into the station approach (from memory). 

I wonder if anyone would have some images that might help. Also, confirmation of loco colour (currently green /black) plus, coaches (currently maroon /cream) would also help. There is quite a bit of artistic licence in the painting so I'm not looking to make it 100% accurate !

Thanks for any assistance,
Dave
ps I note that there is an L&B SIG - should I join this perhaps ?

[Dave Cooper]

Update :

The work is progressing quite well. Far run into the station approach has been revised as has the sleeper pattern in the near foreground. Points complex (middle distance), still giving some perspective trouble....

Customer requests include a move away from pure 'dual-perspective' into something more pleasing to the eye. (He who pays the piper calls the tune !). Loco and coach liveries are acceptable "as is" - who am I to argue (?).

Advice from a more senior artist in our little group re: commissions "unless it's something you really want to do - walk away...." I think he has a point. Next one could be a Spitfire. Thankfully, there's not enough sky in this one to include it !

[Dave Cooper]

Very much a work-in-progress

All comments/suggestions welcome,,,
Cheers,
Dave

[Dave Cooper]

Thanks Mike,

Image quality is a bit dim and 'grainy'. I'll re-take in better light and, when the painting is more complete...

Regards,
Dave

[Dave Cooper]

Thanks also WALLSHIRTS. (Quite an interesting name that - does it have a derivation ?)
Dave

[WALLSHIRTS]

Thanks also WALLSHIRTS. (Quite an interesting name that - does it have a derivation ?)
Dave

It's a play on Walschaerts valve gear.

[Dave Cooper]

Weeds have now started growing in the two sidings. Some changes to perspective in the 'cross-over' sidings plus, a touch or two alterations to the coach liveries (fine detail really).

The sun has moved around a little to give a more realistic shadow effect to the trackwork....I'm just debating whether (or not) to throw the signal and let the driver open the regulator....

Thoughts anyone ?
Dave
ps my favourite valvegear WALLSHIRTS !

[Ian McAulay]

Visiting Brussels a few years ago, I was delighted to find they have a Rue Égide Walschaerts there (Égide Walschaertsstraat in Dutch).

(Would it spoil things too much to point out that his name is pronounced something like Valskharts? The s and ch are pronounced separately and the ch should be aspirated as in Scottish 'loch' if your tonsils will manage that.)

Ian

[Dave Cooper]

Hello Ian

I'm actually learning Welsh at present (being a Swansea boy I feel I owe it something). The 'mutations' in Welsh are quite difficult to learn /understand.... 

I fear that if I were to venture into the mysteries of Belgian, Dutch and Gaelic syntax and pronunciations, the painting would never get finished ! I think I'd better leave the lovely valvegear to the more competent linguistic experts...

Thanks for the comment anyway. 

[Dave Cooper]

Weeds are taking hold in the sidings and the rails are going rusty...



Not too far to go now, just some dumped ballast and waste material.

[Robert Kilby]

Hello Ian

I'm actually learning Welsh at present (being a Swansea boy I feel I owe it something). The 'mutations' in Welsh are quite difficult to learn /understand.... 

I fear that if I were to venture into the mysteries of Belgian, Dutch and Gaelic syntax and pronunciations, the painting would never get finished ! I think I'd better leave the lovely valvegear to the more competent linguistic experts...

Thanks for the comment anyway.

how are you learning Dave?
i am using duolingo...just coming up to 600 days
rob

[Dave Cooper]

Hello Rob,

Mostly Youtube - Jason Shepherd and others....one of my sisters is fluent, so she helps when I get stuck.

I've just mastered the name of the Welsh rally team from Neath. It means "Knights of the Night" in English (back in the days when we used to do night rallying). The 'in the night' bit is easy, 'Knights' not so, especially the pronunciation !

Have a go...
Dave

[Dave Cooper]

The change of perspective from 'Double' to 'Single', has had a slightly unusual effect on the sleepers - this can happen sometimes with a somewhat fixed geometry as is the case with railway tracks.

I'll discuss this with the customer. It could well be that we'll try more of a '1.5' perspective in the sidings first. I know, from experience, that something like a mound of ballast, discarded wheel sets etc. can draw the eye differently....(I think he also sees 'greens' differently to me so the grass may need a touch or two !).   

[Dave Cooper]

Diolch ! Rob

[Dave Cooper]

Coal and Ash dumps in the yard are proving troublesome. I need a re-think here, perhaps a bit of re-positioning will help....photos to follow when a solution is found !