Category: Blitherings

Green

Greens

Green is one of my eternally favorite colors. In my opinion, most mixed greens lack greeness, if that makes any sense. The best greens are already made, and then modified with other colors, such as the addition of more yellow or blue, or even red. The clarity of viridian, Hooker’s, and sap just have a lot to offer.

Traditional greens are mixed from yellow and blue, and in watercolor, you can use cerulean and cadmium yellow, burnt sienna and ultramarine, and all other yellow-blue combos. Some pigments are more “settling” than others, which can be more transparent, and this will affect the final color quality.

Maybe I just need to work on mixing them more . . . but can you really get such a clear green as sap?

Practicing

First of all, apologies for the big copyright in the middle of the pictures, but hopefully it will act as a deterrent to theft.  Probably not.

Leaves 2

That said, I have been working a lot on just thinking about painting, and how to do it without creating a big mess.  Patience and mindfulness and focus are necessary.  These are not my virtues.

Nude Study

I’ve been looking at videos, re-reading books, and reviewing palettes and formulae for colors.  I have also been working on drawing and brushwork.  Sumi-e does help, as the movement of the brush, even with color, still plays an important part in creating a painting.

Astrolomeria

There are other tools for painting as well.  I used some watercolor pencils for fine lines, as seen in the onion.  I used pencil drawing to lay the foundation of the nude.

Onion

Some progress has been made.

A Look Back

Tarpaulins

When things get a little crazy, time to do things gets really tight.  In between, then, is when anything creative gets done, sandwiched in the minute here and there.

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I’ve been going through my photos of the past few years.  Last February I went to the beach with a friend, and we spent the day taking pictures along the shore, then moved to the section which abuts the city of Ventura.  It was a clear day with a brisk, damp wind.

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A lot of the pictures were really bad, but the fun thing is to look at them again.  I’ve changed, and my mood of the moment is different, but I love the memories of that day and how pictures can evoke a given point in my life.  My approach to photography is also different, as is my current taste in post-processing.

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So, here are a few for your perusal. Enjoy, but please don’t steal.

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A Lesson

Watercolor Painting BookThe other day I went to the library with the express purpose of getting some “how to” books on watercolor.  I haven’t painted in a long, long time, and like anything neglected, a bit of work is necessary.  Well, really, a lot of work is necessary!

The urge to paint came about when I finished my Lopi-style sweater a few weeks ago.  This meant looking for supplies, cleaning up the studio, and sorting things out.  The focus on photography these last few years has helped me to see contrast as I have never seen it before, but it doesn’t mean I can paint any better than before.  However, the fact that I needed to learn photography, not just take snapshots, has pushed into my tiny brain the fact that luck does not replace forethought.  Hence, the trip to the library.

As anyone who looks at art books – at “how to” books in any subject – there are far too many to choose from.  Most cover the same basics.  Watercoloring books are no exception.  The key is to find books that appeal to you.  I found a lot to look at, took home six, and have skimmed through all of them.  The one I settled on is called The Watercolor Painting Book, by Wendon Blake, with paintings by Claude Croney.

A “how to” book needs to be a “show how” book.  Detailed descriptions and pictures are really important.  This one does it quite well.  There are studies – demonstrations – in both black and white and color.  For someone wanting to begin at the beginning, but with a bit of knowledge, this really is a good book.  So, I plunged in this afternoon – my reward for totally cleaning up the studio, throwing out old things, and re-arranging the book shelves to accommodate my painting supplies.  (I have to be organized whenever I embark on something new – or newish.)

Watercolor Painting Book

This, then, is the study for the flat wash. Here, dry layers are built up, one on another, as can be seen in this picture of the study. Below are all mine, which are absolutely hideous, but did teach me a bit about contrast and painting. Or remind me of it. Or something.

I have 3 flat brushes that I used here. None feel comfortable, but they were worth using. One is an inch wide, and then they each decrease by half. Awkward! The point, though, is to just do it. That is how we learn. I know I will work more on the flat wash this week, and use the flat brushes. It won’t be pretty – but it will be a good experience!