Monday, September 1, 2014

Colorful Cabbage


Colorful Cabbage
Image Size 14" x 21"
Watercolor

This started out as a poured painting.  I poured about 3 layers and then removed the resist and finished it by painting directly because I wanted soft edges within the leaves.  I again used the QoR watercolors because I wanted to see if I needed less paint when mixing my colors for the pours.  I needed A LOT less paint than with the watercolors I've used in the past.  I started with small dabs of fresh paint in my water mixtures and had to add extra water to each color to tone down the intensity.  I was really surprised at how much less paint was necessary.  Usually, I have to keep adding more and more paint to each container to get the level of color I need so I am really happy to have found a paint that is so intense.

By pouring the paint, I got the color blending of the purples in the middle of the cabbage with the greens of the outside leaves.  I think pouring gives the colors in a painting a cohesiveness that you might not otherwise achieve.  It also gives the colors a beautiful glow.

I used a limited palette for the cabbage.  Usually, when I use three primaries there is only one secondary color that is pure and the others are a bit muddy.  I used Alizarin Crimson, Indanthrone blue and Quinacridone yellow.  With these three colors, I was able to mix a beautiful purple and a lot of clear shades of green and although I didn't use orange in this painting, the Alizarin and yellow make a pretty good orange.   I think I've found my favorite triad!

I know that it's supposed to be possible to mix every color from the three primaries but I wanted a warm brown for the background and I didn't feel that I was getting the color I wanted from these three colors so I used a mix of burnt umber and burnt sienna for the background and then brought those colors into the shadows of the cabbage to warm them up a bit.




10 comments:

  1. OMGosh, Nancy! You painted this cabbage perfectly!
    The colors are amazing and so, so realistic!
    Excellent work!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Hilda. I had so much fun painting this one. Purple is one of my favorite colors.

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  2. Bonjour chère amie,

    Le mois d'août est terminé, les vacances également... En ce qui me concerne, il est temps de reprendre mes habitudes... Je suis heureuse de vous retrouver et d'ouvrir à nouveau la porte de votre univers et d'y découvrir de nouveaux trésors. Très joli billet !
    J'aime les déclinaisons de tons pour ce superbe chou.

    Gros bisous ♡

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    Replies
    1. Je suis désolé que vos vacances sont terminées, mais je suis heureux que je reverrai plus de vos belles peintures.

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  3. Bonjour Nancy,
    Quelle beauté et quelle perfection dans cette aquarelle.
    C'est réellement merveilleux !
    Félicitations :)

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  4. I really love the colors you've managed in those leaves, Nancy. It looks amazing!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Sherry. I need to thank the pouring process for some of those great colors. You should try that technique, I think you'd like it.

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  5. Wow Nancy...how beautifully vivid and lifelike!!

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