Oil painting with fine pencil lines/blocks

Hi all. I got this oil painting recently from an online auction. It come in a really crappy and cheap pine frame. The painting itself looks a bit older and it makes a pretty picture (from a distance) and I like
it. Looks like a traditional English town or something.Still trying to find out who this RS Clark is. However it does look amateurish to me. My question is this: What does the fine pencil lines and blocks mean? It is something to do with the artist helping himself to get his dimensions or scale and layout correct? I only saw the pencil lines when I had the painting in hand.Thanks for any comments.Keep well

 

Lines are to assist in layout. Makes me think this work is unfinished or a student project.

 

Thanks for the comment. Also thought it had something to do with layout or such. I personally don’t think it is incomplete. But the student or amateur part
makes sense. The cars in particular looks a little funny.

 

It appears to be gridded. That's an exercise technique taught in Drawing 101 for copying a photograph. Perhaps taught in Painting 101 too. Does look like the high street of an English market town. Some place like Thame (but not Thame.) You might be able to identify location by architecture (Georgian, brick, clock tower, cupola) of the town hall on the right or by the hotel and pub on the left.

Debora

 

For instance, here's the Bridport Town Hall in Dorset. Close but no cigar. However, with a little luck...

Debora

 

Hi Debora.Many thanks for the response and suggestion. I was trying to find the possible name of the town (for interest sake) Will make use of the your keys words

 

Thanks for the image. Agreed. With luck and bit of effort... who knows. The painting was really inexpensive but still if I knew about grids beforehand I would have left it... However I still like the picture (but from across the room )

 

I think it's fun. Wouldn't be surprised though if R.S. Clark didn't do from an old photograph.

Debora

 

I read Crown Hotel too. What I thought was pub sign appears to feature crown so likely also associated with hotel.

Debora

 

Try the Crown Inn in Amersham.

Debora

 

Bingo! Easier than thought. This 1950s. Almost the exact same view.

Debora

 

And too funny. Coincidentally, Amersham is only 30 miles from Thame.

Debora

 

Think its safe to say that photo grid drawing was taught before perspective drawing Well, maybe it is just because of the slant of the picture that was taken, but I find the perspective unsettling.

 

I'm finding an R.S. Clark nearby. At Winchendon Hill, Aylesbury , Bucks.

Debora

 

Before in terms of the course syllabus? Yes.

Debora

 

I feel like I'm falling backwards every time I look at it. And no, I haven't been drinking.

 

Thanks for the comment. That green car does look a bit like a clown car. Good observation regarding steering wheel.

 

That’s brilliant. Thanks Debora. Good detective work.