Description

Sightseeing in Prague captures the heat, movement, and atmosphere of a summer’s day in the Old Town Square. I painted the horse-drawn carriage as it passed the Astronomical Clock. It was surrounded by a crowd of tourists, with the spires of the Church of Our Lady rising in the distance. Meanwhile, loose brushstrokes and layered colours in each area enhance the sense of fluidity. These create a lively and atmospheric response.

Inspiration for Sightseeing in Prague:

Inspiration came quickly. During a fleeting trip to Prague in the baking summer heat, I found myself inspired to capture movement in the daytime. This is in addition to my usual night scenes. The stunning architecture, full of Art Nouveau qualities, fascinated me. The Astronomical Clock (Orloj), installed in 1410, is the third oldest of its kind and the oldest still working.

In fact, I took more than 600 photographs in a single day. This painting became part of a new series of work exploring Prague’s energy and beauty.

Techniques and media used:

For my technique, I experimented with slow shutter shots using my Nikon. This was more difficult in daylight because of the brightness. As a result, I began using a panning technique. I moved the camera during the shot to blur and distort the background while keeping the subject more in focus.

Back in the studio, I translated this fleeting, sun-baked feeling into oil paint. Therefore, I used soft edges to give a dreamy effect. I chose clean colours for clarity, and lighter, wispy marks with softer brushes. Finally, I added enough detail to hold the viewer’s attention. Meanwhile, I kept the impression fluid and alive.