This painting is an experiment in textures and is one where I used a limited palette. My colors were Ultramarine Blue, Deep, Quinacridone Orange and Indigo. It is a poured watercolor with salt textures. I was trying the wet in wet textural techniques of the painter Gwendolyn Bragg, but didn't do it correctly so I ended up just doing the usual pouring on wet watercolor paper. You may see a demo of her techniques on her website. I still want to learn to do her technique, so I plan to try some more using her specific technique. The textures in this painting came from the salt I dropped on it before the watercolor dried. I lifted my lights before it dried also. Then, while it was drying, I did the detailing in the bricks and stucco.
I finished this still life painting yesterday. It was painted for the Watercolor Workshop monthly project where the members paint from a photograph provided by Gina Hall, a member of the Watercolor Workshop. It is 8" x 12" and is painted on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper. This painting turned out very TIGHT which I try to get away from, but sometimes my inner nature triumphs and out pops TIGHT! Oh well - I have discussed this before and since there is nothing I can do about it because it is my nature/style to paint this way - Here it Is!
I finished the painting for our Christmas card tonight. This is a painting of our sheltie, Tara. As you can see, she was a very reluctant model for this picture - she was not a happy camper:) You should know though, that she is the sweetest tempered little thing and patiently put up with my actions to get the photograph. She hates that Santa hat - probably because it pushes her ears out and makes her look like the flying nun. The painting is small - 7" x 5", and it is painted on Canson watercolor paper on the smooth side. It is cold-pressed and I used an assortment of different watercolors trying to attain her particular sable color - she is much lighter and golden than most shelties and it is hard to mix that particular color. Well - now it is time to design the card on my Print Shop Pro Publisher and that means there will be a trip to Staples for envelopes and card stock sometime this week.
I did this painting for the Watercolor Passion website ...the quarterly project is now "shoes!" This painting was done on a 1/4 sheet of Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper with an assortment of different watercolors.
