Description

Queensway Underpass – Great Charles Street is one of my watercolour explorations of Birmingham’s busy road and rail system. From this view, I was looking across to the side of the tracks at Snow Hill Station. Meanwhile, I was also peering beneath them into the Queensway underpass and tunnel stretching into the distance.

I loved the contrast in the scene: a lone white car gliding into the tunnel, its headlights shimmering across the wet pavement. Simultaneously, a solitary figure walked under the railway bridge toward the city centre.

Inspiration for Queensway underpass – Great Charles Street:

I like using underpasses and bridges to add a ‘frame within a frame’ effect. This enables the viewer to focus on the heart of the activity within this painting. Again, I spent hours with my camera in the drizzly evening weather. I was waiting for the right car to come into view to add to the dynamism of the composition.

Techniques and media used:

You have to be patient to use watercolours.

Starting with the faintest of a drawing and then the thinnest and lightest layers. This allows the white paper to shine through. I worked wet on wet in areas to get the effects of water and reflections. Additionally, I had the patience to let the areas dry. This allowed me to add the finer details, defining lines and hard edges where necessary.

It’s the balance between detail and interest, whilst also acknowledging the medium and letting it stay expressive.