Petrified Forest National Park

 Week 8 of  Project 52.

Petrified Forest National Park - Watercolor 3.5” x 5” 

An Epiphany

 I’ve been watching watercolor videos trying to learn techniques. What I’ve primarily gotten is wisdom. There’s been a lot of little nuggets that have stuck with me. “Be kind to yourself.” I’ve been frustrated by the difficulties I’ve had picking up wet on wet blurred background. I’ve learned I’m not alone. One instructor said that they themselves found “loose” painting impossible. It’s the style they tried to replicate and it wasn’t for her. It’s not for me either. 

Here are 2 cloud pieces I’m going to paint palm trees over using acrylic paint. 

This first one I don’t like, with the exception of the upper left corner. I cut that down to 2.5” x 3.5.”

The next is only a bit better. 

I need to let the loose style go and concentrate on more intricate techniques. I need to not beat myself up for not mastering a particular style that I’m not naturally proficient at. I need to play to my strengths. And be nice to myself.

Spike, a Work in Progress

 I’ve been wanting to do a painting with an out of focus watercolor background, and an acrylic foreground. But then I considered doing it in all watercolor. I used masking fluid.

A. I’m not overly fond of the background. The effect I wanted wasn’t working, so, not wanting to waste this, I salvaged it. It’s not what I envisioned, but I decided to just go with it.

B. The masking fluid took up not only the pencil drawing, but the paper itself in places. This portion will now be acrylic by necessity. If that works. Barbie believes an under painting will settle the paper. We’ll see. 

Bokeh Backgrounds

 The last couple of days I’ve been experimenting with making out of focus backgrounds. The term bokeh is for the blurry background effect in photos. 

I had trouble with one technique, but really like parts, and picked a couple of 2.5” x 3.5” portions out for acrylic backgrounds. Now, to figure out what I’ll do over each. 

Sedona, Arizona

 Week 7 of Project 52. 

I like the top, but considered cutting it down because I got very lost on how to handle the foreground. I need to learn trees and bushes. I think I fixed it via cutting in with the red and pulling out color. I should’ve set it aside, and come back to it with fresh eyes. 

Watercolor - 3.5” x 5” 

SOLD

Pear and … Pear

 I was watching internet videos on making watercolor look out of focus. This is a technique I’d like to learn as I have an idea for a series. I have learned a lot from just watching different artists and their processes. 

The first pear was an attempt at one artist’s method. It failed in the fuzzy look I was shooting for, but I liked what I wound up with. This morning I added detail (Barbie’s suggestion, I was just going to leave it as is.) with watercolor pencil. I learned several things. I pressed too hard and left an indentation in the paper on the bottom left. But I think it gives the painting more dimension. 

The second pear is much closer to what I was trying to achieve. 

Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, Arizona

 Week 6 of Project 52. 

Watercolor - 2.5” x 3.5” - 7/16/22

Landscape One

 I’m watching videos for beginners in watercolor. This is the first project. It’s from a photo they provide for reference. 

Landscape One - Watercolor - 8” x 10” - completed 7/15/22

Bell Rock, Sedona, Arizona

 Week 5 of Project 52

Watercolor on paper - ACEO 2.5" x 3.5"

Devils Tower Wyoming

 I was just experimenting with a new higher quality of watercolor paints and did this. I can't recall what day. I also didn't want to cut it down to ACEO size, so it's approximately 3.5" x 4." 

SOLD