Ilôts dans la Dordogne

‘Ilôts, Pontours, Dordogne – 1’
Oil on Canvas
46 x 38 cm
©Adam Cope

Dark waters fast flowing, white water crests over rapids & reed beds. Opaque water, gun metal grey flavoured with mud. Little islands – ‘ilôts’ – with willow, driftwood & pinky orange cornus reeds. Cormorants & swans. Cold, grey day.Here’s a watercolour study of the same spot but in summer when you can see through the waters to the underworld. Note on the left the silhouettes of the cormorants (properly named, they’re ‘shanks’ actually). Painting fast flowing water isn’t easy. Sometimes you have to look at it with the eye of a fisherman, studying the underworld beneath the surface.

Another but from the other bank, looking down the river to Lalinde bridge.