Rainy Day

"Rainy Day"

Image Size 11" x 15"

Watercolor

We got some much needed rain today.  I think I'm partly responsible for that because I got my car washed this morning.  I hadn't heard that it was supposed to rain.  Having a clean car and not wanting to waste a car wash motivated me to work on emptying boxes in the garage so that my car would fit inside.  It's nice to finally be able to actually park in the garage!  I still have a lot more stuff to put away, but at least my car is safe from water spots.  ; )

This was painted on a saturated piece of paper.  I used the complementary color combinations of blues/oranges, purples/yellows to get some interesting grays in the sky.

Mariposa

"Mariposa"

Image Size 11" x 15"

Watercolor

This is the other painting that I finished in Jeanne Hyland's workshop.  This was painted from a photo of her dog.  It was fun playing with the bright colors to describe a brown and white dog.  Mariposa had some spots but I left them out.

I used the saturated wet technique again.  I really love the control that is possible when using that method.

Nick

"Nick"

Image Size 22" x 15"

Watercolor

I just attended another two day art workshop last week.  Two workshops within a month is not a usual thing for me, but it sure is a great way to spend a couple of days.  It's like a mini vacation.

This workshop was with Jeanne Hyland.  I've taken her "Wet and Workable" workshop before and really enjoyed it.  Even though I knew the basics of this technique from her last workshop, I still learned a lot this time and feel like I have a better understanding of what to do.  A little more experience painting in this style definitely makes a difference. 

This was a "Portraits and Pets" workshop.   In the past, I was hesitant to try painting animals and people.  I will have more confidence tackling them in the future.  There are three portrait projects that I've wanted to paint for years but have been too afraid to start.  I know, "it's just a piece of paper", but even with that thought in my head, I've been too intimidated to try.

This was painted from a photo that Jeanne took of a young waiter.  This painting doesn't look much like the photo but at least he does look human so I'm happy about that.  On my next portrait, I will be more careful about using green.  This poor guy looks a little under the weather.  I thought I would be able to lift the color out as I worked but whatever paint I used, it was not lifting at all.  Anyway, it was a fun project and I was less stressed as I painted it than I thought I would be.

Skyscape

"Skyscape"

Image Size 14" x 11"

Watercolor

This painting was also done on a saturated piece of paper.  It was my first painting in Jeanne Hyland's workshop.  There is space at the bottom that I cropped out for this view.  I haven't decided whether or not to put some land in or leave it as a skyscape.  I like it this way, I think.

Pear Family

Pear Family

Image Size 12" x 6"

Watercolor

I painted this on a saturated piece of paper.  It's fun to try to control the combination of water to paint when painting this way.  It's important to add less water and more paint as the paper begins to dry.  I put the paper on a piece of plexiglass while I was painting so the paper stayed super wet for a long time.  It's a challenge to keep adding paint without getting blooms from having too much water in the brush.  I've got a long way to go before I'll feel like I'm in control when painting this way.

When I wet this paper, I could tell that the sizing was gone.  The paper becomes translucent when wet if there is no sizing.  I didn't care about the lack of sizing because when the paper is saturated, it doesn't seem to matter if it's gone.  I like the fuzzy, ethereal look that this painting has because of the combination of wet paper and lack of sizing.