SGRAFFITO BOATS PROJECT

Acrylic Paint on Watercolour Paper A3.

This was done in preparation for teaching a ‘Beginners Art Class at ‘Campion Art Studio’ and at ‘Micklems Farm Creative Workshops’.‍

What will it teach the students about?

The impact of an underpainting.

Simplification

Colour Mixing & Colour Temperature (its all about the warms and cools here!)

Sgraffito Technique & Markmaking

Precision

Shape, Colour and Tone

Reference Photo - St Ives Harbour Beach. I love the ‘lean’ on the boats. The diagonals that the masts create ,as the boats wait for the incoming tide, makes the image so much more dynamic than if they were pointing straight up! On the right there ‘The Sloop Inn’. Many a pint of lager enjoyed in there!

Process shot (Detail): Working up a small area at a time, scratching out whilst the paint is wet using a palette knife.

Located on the iconic St Ives harbourfront, The Sloop Inn is one of Cornwall’s oldest pubs.

Key historical highlights:

• Early Origins: While origins trace back to the 14th century, the current building structure dates to the 17th and 18th centuries.

• Smugglers & Wreckers: It was historically notorious as a refuge for pirates, smugglers, and wreckers. Look above the front door to see the original grill where stolen plunder and barrels were stored.

• Artists' Haven: During the Victorian era and early 20th century, the pub became a popular gathering spot for the famous St Ives artist colony,

• • Artists from the St Ives School including Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, and Alfred Wallis

  • Louis Grier: A prominent Victorian-era artist whose paintings hung on the pub's walls. 

  • Hyman Segal: Known for his sweeping line drawings and caricatures of pub-goers in the 1950s, copies of his work still hang there.

  • Sydney Lee: A frequent visitor who painted the inn under the moonlight Minneapolis Institute of Art.

• Famous Appearances: It was featured in the 1980 maritime movie Raise the Titanic, with scenes shot on the harbour and inside the pub.