Lavender Field

I have had such a hard time finishing a project.  Been taking lots of classes, but never seem to finish the last project before the next one begins!  Ok, so now I am going to just dive in and try to finish all the ones piled up before I start my next class.  This was done in the car so if it looks a little sideways, you know why! :)   I'm a beginner, and have been a beginner for 20 years off and on!  I know someone out there knows exactly what I'm talking about.  Some things I get right in my painting and others, well... they are a little off. But that's ok, because... I'm a beginner! LOL

I probably watch watercolor videos more than I need to.  I think well, if I'm going to watch how to paint, I may as well just paint myself and keep trying, oh but just after this next helpful video.

This is small. Done on a 4x6 fluid watercolor paper block.  Thanks for looking.

Tulips for Karen

These tulips are painted on a cold press 140 lb.  8 x 8 paper from a bound pad from Hobby Lobby.  I did not use the whole 8 x 8 sheet.  I blocked off an area about 5 x 5.5 inches.

I used Thalo Crimson, Sap Green, Hookers Green, Turquoise and Transparent Yellow watercolor from tubes.  The two days it took me to complete this painting seemed really short.  I am pretty happy with it.

Thanks for checking in!

~painting in the car~

A bumpy highway helps to make a good painting!  It helped with the painting and it helped with drawing some lines around the flower and leaves.  Keeps you from trying to be too exact... that's a good thing.

What do you think?  Thanks for stopping by!

Quick Sketch - Quick Paint.... YIKES!!!

This is the perfect example for taking your time...although after reading so much material on sketching everyday, it doesn't matter that your drawing or sketch is perfect, but what matters is that you are just taking the time to record something down on your paper.

I've got a BIG cup and a small lamp and small potted plant...I guess I could have said that this cup was one of those big soup cups! But that's ok.  In reality, the lamp is big, much bigger than shown here, then the plant would be more accurately sized and the cup, well, it needed to be smaller.

The other thing I'm looking at is:  How could I have made this a much looser painting?  My page was only 7 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches.  Trying to do this quickly was a little stressful.  I am much happier with my results if I plan out my "scene" and pre-plan the color for the painting.  I am also learning about values.  I can see why all of this is so important.  I do like my white cup, it is the best part of the painting.... What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by....

I finally figured out my watercolor paint storage issues....

Now I've got a good painted sample of each of my colors that I can carry along with me where ever I am painting.... AND I found the best boxes to keep my colors separated and easy to find!  The first two pictures are of the swatches I painted to fit inside the clear plastic boxes.  Now I can easily grab the colors I need and close the boxes.  And no more throwing them into a big Ziploc bag and hunting for the correct hue!   I only have six boxes and I estimated about 14 colors per swatch, but more than 14 watercolor paint tubes will fit into each container.
This bottom picture shows what the containers look like and how I've attached my swatches inside the container.  I am always so happy to be organized!

Art Journal Page... well sort of...

This isn't in my art journal, but it is a piece of Strathmore Ready Cut watercolor paper.  I found a bunch of watercolor paper on sale at Hobby Lobby sometime ago, so I decided to break open this package.

I painted some permanent rose  and new gamboge on the paper and let it dry.  It left some heart shapes, so I went with that and pulled a few out from behind.  I like the colors together.  I shaded some of it with pencil and added white and black paint pens and thought I was done.

I know some art journals have tons of things on each page and I love how they look, but I find that I am worried about it all becoming a mish-mash of shapes and you can't really see the message.  Maybe that's my style?? Maybe not??  Aren't artists supposed to know when to stop?   I know there were times that I had gone too far on a piece of artwork and then wished I hadn't put that last ~whatever~ on it.  Then there were times I said I was finished and later thought: hmmm it needs more...but I don't know what .... then much later I still felt that way! 

Anyone have any helpful comments? Is it  done? What would you add? Take off? Thanks for looking!

Happy New Year ~ Happy New Blog !

It's a new year and a new blog!  I admire watercolor paintings and oil paintings and I am hoping to really learn how to paint this year.  I've been trying on and off for 20 years!

 

So I am going to need you to help me see what techniques need improvement or see a technique that would have worked better on one of my paintings or journal pages.

 

I guess what I am saying is that I need a mentor to help guide me.  I know I like bright colors, but feel the need to translate the colors I see in a photo onto my watercolor paper or canvas.  I think it is so much more interesting to use different colors.   The other thing I know about my painting style is that I am much too controlling.  I want to be loose and free with color and shapes and let my audience "finish" the painting, but I am not quite sure how to do that.

 

I've read books by Tony Couch and they are amazing!  My favorite is “Watercolor”  You Can Do It!!  I "get" what he says about principles and values, I just don't get how to put it all in my paintings!  Anyone else out there understand what I mean??!!  I have so many watercolor technique books and have taken painting classes, but I feel like I am not finding my own style.  How do you develop your own style?  Does anyone know?

 

The other thing I want to figure out in watercolor painting is where to start?  Start with mid values and work from there?  And how can I create a value sketch without having superb drawing skills?  All these things to think about!!!

 

The first page in my moleskine journal is something I've never painted before: very basic shapes staying in the lines and letters.  I have painted landscapes and still life’s previously, but decided to just create shapes for the first page of the new year.

 

If you have suggestions or know of any challenges for beginners, email or comment below!

Angel