I always enjoy taking a look at paintings and studies I have done. Last time I posted them here was in late January, so another posting is due. I have been really busy over the last couple of weeks getting this mess of a house cleaned up, so painting has been a bit sporadic. Some of the ones here may be duplicates of previous, but as my life is chaotic, so go my posts. My pencil portraits need to be scanned, and they will come at a later date.
I try to paint every day, and in general, I seem to accomplish this. I have been working mostly in gouache and watercolor. There are times when I make studies – try to copy – the works of people I admire, or do an exercise in a “how to” art book. You learn from both. Other times, I just make something up or interpret something I have seen. Landscapes are always my favorite subject. These are some of the things I have done over the last two months, not in any particular order.
Summer comes and goes; retirement gives you time to fill the days. Each one is cherished, and soon, your time becomes increasing full, so full you wonder when you will find time . . .
I have tried to paint every day – gouache, watercolor, pastels – and overall have managed to meet that challenge. Some days, other parts of life intervene, and that’s okay. Appointments, social engagements, reading a book all can replace the time spent painting. Thus, without further ado, here are some that I produced since my August 2, 2020, post about painting in July.
I have been trying to paint daily – not happening! – in one of three media: watercolor, gouache, and pastels. Today I am just going to present a slide show of what I have done in watercolor this year. Like anything that is being measured, it goes up and down as far as “success”, and that is subjective. What I think is good may not be in another’s opinion, and vice versa. The thing is to keep doing it, sometimes spontaneously and other times with a bit, or a lot, of forethought.
I was rummaging through the files on my desk, and came across a collection of sumi-e ink, ink and color, and watercolor or acrylic paintings I did a long time ago. Some of these are “aceo” size, which measure 2×3.5 inches, and others are other papers. I used to sell these on Ebay, too. Maybe I need to go through and scan some more – it’s like tea and madeleines – memories and reminders.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 