Aerial View Marylebone Gardens 1986

Patrick Procktor painted this watercolor of Marylebone Gardens, and what's really striking is how he laid down these washes of muted greens, greys and browns to capture a park scene from above. It feels like he’s chasing after a feeling, rather than trying to give you a precise picture. Look at the way the bare tree branches reach up and across the frame, sketched out with quick strokes. You can almost see Procktor moving the brush, letting the water do its thing, blending one tone into the next. The paint is thin and transparent, with the white of the paper showing through, creating a real sense of light and air. Now check out the gazebo roof, that reddish, almost rusty hue. It’s like a little anchor in all this airy lightness. Procktor always reminded me a little of David Hockney, they were contemporaries after all, with that similar interest in finding the poetry in everyday life. This piece isn't about perfection, it’s about seeing, feeling, and letting the paint lead the way.