Staged watercolour

Entitled; First encounter, this watercolour I thoroughly enjoyed painting and is shown in build up stages.
My insperation came from watching a television period drama. I love the fashion of that time.
I captured the moment with a digital camera from the screen, printed an image and converted it to black and white so my palette was not influenced. I have modified the scene and cropped figures that were to the right, leaving an intruiging composition I feel.
I have tried to create the darkests darks against the lightest light at positions off centre vertically and horizontally. I try to lay very wet and bold washes, allowing the paint to run into each other and keeping in mind were the light direction is.

My tone values are paramount and I leave the white of the paper were appropiate without the use of masking aids. Lots of dry brush marks help to create texture against the wet in wet washes. This painting has to be done quickly, but with an element of loose control to maintain the fresh appearance.

The direction of light is from the left, although I am aware of light bouncing from other directions too. In terms of scale and proportion the composition is not accurate. I am more interested in creating a mood and atmoshere rather than detail.
I wonder what the young lady is thinking! The couple on the next table create interest and counterchange I feel.

I do hope you have enjoyed seeing my approach to the kind of subject which inspires me.
Thank you for taking your time reading my blog and I hope you will visit me again.

Materials; Arches Aquarel 140 lb rough (half imperial), 14 kolinsky sable brush, W+N Artists watercolour.