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Scudamore’s at Magdalene Bridge, Cambridge is an original oil painting by Nick Grove.
Contre-jour study, painted alla prima
Cambridge is close enough to my studio that I often return to it to sharpen my plein-air practice. This painting was made one bright but cold afternoon in October, working directly into the light.
I began by mapping out the scene with raw umber and a small amount of odourless mineral spirit, using a long-handled filbert brush. The path on the left closely matched the ground of the panel, providing a natural starting point from which to build the rest of the composition. The distant college buildings appeared cool and bluish, set against the warmer oranges of the nearer bridge and structures. This established a restrained palette of cerulean blue, raw sienna, and titanium white.
Once the main masses were in place, I moved on to the figures and points of interest, working from left to right to avoid disturbing the surface. Stronger cadmium colours were reserved for foreground accents and highlights. The painting was completed in a single sitting, responding directly to the cold air, sharp light, and fleeting movement of the scene.
