Painting #14: abstract - weeping branches or vines with colourful drops

Painting #14:  abstract - weeping branches or vines with colour-drops



Date: Dec. 2017

Composition:
Similar to a photo I saw somewhere, sometime with a sort of Oriental flavour; but also inspired by watercolours I like by Angie Vandenbogaard.  

The larger circles were created by outlining with watercolour pencils ...  small jars, coins, and the like.  


You can view the Original Watercolor Tree Artwork by Angie Vandenbogaard at

 https://www.etsy.com/shop/jellybeans



Paper:
- light weight, inexpensive watercolour paper,  taped down to "stretch" and keep it from warping.  I use either the green or the blue masking tapes and find it doesn't take off a layer of the paper when you remove it soon after completing the work.  

Paints:
 - Staedtler ergo soft aquarell water colour pencils, then painted over thinly with wet brush.  I really like this brand as it easily, smoothly lays down the colour, in either a heavy or a light stroke.

Size:    8" W  x 10" H



 Finished:

Sketch:   
The outline sketch of the above finished painting started out similar to this second sketch below that I started and then ruined.  

Draft Version using a "Pearlescent" Watercolour Pan Set 

Changing, removing colour, and painting over doesn't work well for me using watercolours.  

This children's "Pearlescent" Watercolour Pan Set by Artist's Loft caught my eye at Michaels art store; and I thought to try a version of the painting above using these 28 pretty pastels with a metallic finish.  (Okay quality for playing with.)

Experimenting with the end of paint brushes for circles probably works very well when the ends are flat, but not so well if they are rounded.  Plastic templates with lots of circle sizes cut out work very well as long as you clean it after every circle so the paint remnants don't smear as you move to the next circle.  


Maybe a set of round 'Sponge Stippler & Paint Dabbers' would work a whole lot easier, and they come in a wide range of circle sizes.

Painting #13: Vase of Lilies

Painting #13:  Vase of Lilies

Date:  Dec. 2017

Composition Source:  "The Complete Watercolor Pencil Set" by Curtis Tappenden, published by Reader's Digest.

Vase of Lilies is Project #2 in the set's enclosed instruction projects book.  I found the 14 steps of  instructions made the project very easy.  The sketches in the Project Book are just thumb-nail size and very faded, so one can not use them to trace or transfer onto your canvas.  The pictures of the finished works are 3.5" x 5" and that helps in creating your own sketch in the size of painting you wish to do.

finished

This is only project that I've done from this set, but I find it a good course for learning how to use watercolour pencils, that in turn can be converted with a wet brush into watercolour artworks. 


Paper:  light weight, inexpensive watercolour paper,  taped down  with green masking tape to "stretch" and keep it from warping. 

Paints:  Staedtler ergo soft aquarell watercolour pencils, 
then painted over thinly with wet brush

Size:  8" W  x 10" H
Sketch:   similar to this second draft that I started and then ruined:

 1. sketch with blue watercolour pencil 

                 

2. pencil colouring in, change little bowls, etc

 progressing .... add more pencil colour, add damp brushing

wet brushed all

Painting #12: Sanibel beach

Painting #12:  Sanibel beach

Date:  Nov. 2017

Composition:

Trying to capture the colours of the sand and waters of the beaches around Fort Meyers, Florida.

I couldn’t marry the incoming waves to the sand in any realistic way, so gave up.  Removing colour and repainting can only be done so many times when using watercolour paper and paints.

YouTube, doubtlessly, has many instructional videos on watercolour 'beach-scape' painting, and should I avail myself to one, my next attempt should be improved.

Material:  inexpensive loose sheet watercolour paper, light weight

Paint:  watercolour

Size:  8.75" w  x 8.5" h


Sketch:  didn't photograph and painted over watercolour pencil marks made for sun, horizon line, boat

Paint Pallet:  didn't make one,  and mixed paints numerous times trying to achieve that wonderful sea-foam green/aqua water colour on a sunny day there.

•  lightened up, last version
•  more sandy beach