Agincourt Painting Diary

Follow how Graham Turner transformed a large blank canvas into his detailed and complex portrayal of the battle of Agincourt. This series of photos was taken by Graham as the painting progressed over several months.

'These are just quick snaps and the painting was not specially lit, so please allow for the lack of quality, but I hope these help show the various stages the painting went through to become the finished work it is now.' Graham Turner

Having scribbled out several alternative compositions, done a huge amount of reading and research, and given a lot of thought to my evolving ideas, this is the rough sketch I settled on to form the basis of my painting. I wanted it to capture as much of the story of Agincourt as possible, so it needed a broad 'widescreen' view. This allowed me to include Henry V and the English men at arms, the archers and their stakes, the massed ranks of the advancing French (with at least one panicked horse fleeing from the earlier cavaly charge), the mud and the horror of being struck down into it.........

I then worked on this initial idea, adding detail and drawing the main figures more accurately - you can get away with a few broad strokes in a small sketch, but a big oil painting needs to be worked out a bit more carefully. Having said that, you'll see that it evolved further from this drawing when I was painting, something I think is important - painting is more than just colouring in!

(Above) Here is the sketch transfered to the canvas using a grid, with already some changes made to some of the figures. I also decided that the English man at arms thrusting towards us on the right should have a visor on his helmet; a strong face here would detract from Henry V, who should be a focal point.

(Above) The first thing to do is cover the white canvas. Once you get some tonal values established, the painting can develop as a whole. The areas uncovered here look so bright - a bit more to do with a big brush!

Here's a close up showing how I draw with the brush at this early stage, using paint to sketch in the pose before covering it with tone and colour. I try to keep everything as loose and broad as possible to begin with, so as to keep the painting alive and moving and avoid getting bogged down with details.

CLICK HERE to go to the next page and continue following Graham Turner's progress with his Agincourt painting.

Agincourt print

Graham Turner's painting of the Battle of Agincourt is available as a high quality print - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

A special canvas edition is also be available, in two alternative sizes, with each reproduction individually printed on very high quality canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars by the artist himself, ensuring a picture as close to the original as possible.