Five-petaled Flower, w/c on arches, 9x12More painting without drawing first. This is from a photo taken by my son Steven; any credit for design belongs to him. I don't know the size of the flower or its name. My thinking: What could be easier than painting a single flower? Ha! When I decided the background should be pale blue, I stupidly thought if I did it quickly my petals would be okay--it almost worked. I learned about color slowly spreading and used that lesson for the lower left. I will now look for my book, The Joy of Painting--I believe it has instructions for every medium. Ignorance, though, is sometimes an excellent first teacher.
Mr. Muffet, w/c on arches, 12x9Playing at my get-together with other artists on Thursday, I learned the colors of my sticks. First question: What the heck is "New Gamboge?" It's someplace between yellow and burnt sienna--I'll call it dark yellow. Mr. Muffet (who is not suffering from jaundice--just yellow-play) began with two circles which became eyes; he grew a nose; then ears and a mustache; his hair was influenced by the wind outside; then his glasses were added. He had to be looking at something--the spider dropped in.
My art group and I think we know him. Perhaps he walks around town with the sleep-walking nude dictionary lady, A, from my blog entry of February 6.
My art group and I think we know him. Perhaps he walks around town with the sleep-walking nude dictionary lady, A, from my blog entry of February 6.
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Hi Hallie - I like your flower painting a great deal! It has personality and is skillfully rendered. Mr. Muffet is a hoot!!! Again, can't stop laughing. I don't know the exact details about "new" gamboge, although I use it a lot, but gamboge (without the "new") is a native yellow gum from Thailand. It's a transparent hue, not a true pigment color, and fugitive. I suspect that the "new" product has corrected all that in a synthetic process. Gamboge was popular from Medieval times until the 19th Century when cobalt yellow took its place.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy. I think I have eleven w/c sticks--that includes a black and a white. For me limits are sometimes an advantage--easier to keep track of which color I used. Helpful info on gamboge--I'll check Smith's website.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing remarkably well with your watercolor sticks! You seem to be trudging on with the learning process.
ReplyDeleteIs that flower a Dogwood petal?
Mr. Muffet is just COOL!! I love his hair. He looks like some of the customers that come to our store. You have a real knack for faces. Maybe we should collaborate on some cartoon ideas- my punch line, your faces... could work.
Thanks for the good belly laugh! Going to look now at your Feb. 6 post. Sleep walking nude-dictionary lady, heh.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam. I had to get these out of the way; next week I'll probably work on taxes.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the flower is periwinkle--an extreme, close-up photo of the ground cover. I've always enjoyed drawing people but portraits would be hard--I'd have to include every wrinkle. Andyou don't need help with faces; your cartoons are perfect the way they are.
Indigomar, Hi. Like most small towns we have characters; someone's probably drawing me wearing my white socks with sandals--even in winter.
So what exactly is wrong with the petals? I don't see it - they look wonderful to me. I also like the wavy blue on the left. To me one of the glories of watercolors is the way it spreads. (Although, believe me, I have a love hate relationship with the medium.)
ReplyDeleteHi Dan. I fixed the petals (made them a bit larger) after they oozed out. I have to learn to go with the flow of watercolors--this looks a bit like a page from a coloring book. Mr. Muffet was more fun.
ReplyDeleteI now have a moleskine sketchbook and watercolor notebook--thanks to your blog. I usually only sneakily sketch our town council members while pretending to take notes. No coffee shops here. Your blog & sketches are great.
The flower is beautiful--very "clean" and fresh--I love it! Your Mr. Muffet is quite adorable. I feel compelled to tell you that I call my ex husband's much younger girlfriend "miss muffet" lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks Celeste. I think you're more fortunate than "miss muffet." You get to paint whenever and wherever you want.
ReplyDeleteHey Hallie, You did paint the Vinca Vine flower. and very nicely. (Vinca Minor) I spent years in the horticulture field, so I know most plants by common and botanical name. I was reading Bob Burridge Artsy Fartsy News letter and he talks about INKTense sticks. I want to give them a try. Have a great wkend.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue. I have Inktense, too--in pencil form. These w/c sticks from Daniel Smith are like big pieces of chalk.
ReplyDeleteHi Hallie, The flower has an almost sculptural quality to me. What a fun way to experiment with the new watercolor sticks. I particularly like MrMuffet! He surprises.
ReplyDeleteThanks Peggy. I keep an eye on Miss Kitty and her adventures.
ReplyDeleteFun paintings.
ReplyDeleteThanks Art Trip. Now, if I can get my third eye focused, I'll follow your interesting blog. Love your ID photo--a chicken and a cigarette!
ReplyDeleteHi Hallie!
ReplyDeleteLove the flower! And Mr Muffet, that's just downright funny! Thanks for the laugh.
Hi Kathleen. I hope you're putting that purple soldering table to good use. I haven't seen any new jewelry in a while.
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind. And those council members deserve it! HAH! politicians..(i mutter under my breath).
ReplyDelete