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