Twists and Turns

A couple weeks go I was asked to substitute for two weeks in the watercolor class. I love going to the class - I always learn something and it gets me out of doing all the other administrative things that seem to keep popping up. I do need to be in my right brain. (Now that's another story, if you are left-handed - as I am - do I go into my left brain to find my creative side? Am I usually already in my right brain? Too much thinking...)

Anyway, that day in class I just couldn't get into a grove. I painted an awful painting of a fawn that had been sitting in our yard for a few days. I thought it would be good to do something 'cute' - it wasn't... In fact, even my teacher suggested that I just wash it off! She was so right.

On to week two of subbing - I was determined to come to class with an idea that would excite me. Looking back at recent paintings...there were all those ropes. Could I do another in my rope series? Actually, it was my watercolor instructor who suggested that a series would be fun. After googling several ideas: maritime, ropes, cleats, ships' wheels...I began to sketch. I was just going to make up something and purposely NOT paint from a photo.

This is what I took to class:

Sorry about the photo quality, but hopefully you can see a rope and a ship's wheel. It is a little different - I thought it might be interesting. Barbara (my teacher) did not like the shape that the rope made in the upper left hand corner.

Here it is after I re-drew that area:

I got to work with my watercolors and it began to take shape:

Here are the basic shapes and colors - now to add some shadows for a more dramatic effect. By the end of class this is how much I had gotten finished.

When I got home, I put it on my easel and looked at it for a few days to see what else it needed. It also helps me if I put a mat around it  - interestingly that helps to see what else to do. A lot of staring and tweaking later... I added highlights to the wheel and played a bit more here and there with the line and its shadows and... voila!

"Twists and Turns" matted 16x20 watercolor $200

It's ready to go to the SMAL gallery in St Michaels. We will be hanging new artwork for the month of August. Stop in and see what's new - 106 Railroad Ave in St Michaels.

Happy Fourth!

Since this new painting is mostly red, white and blue . . .I thought it would be fun to post it today - the 4th of July.

This painting is a re-paint of one that I blogged on June 16, 2013 for the Red, White and Blue Exhibit last July.

I always particularly loved the light and shadow on the girl on the left - that's granddaughter, Graeme, a few years ago. I thought I would crop this painting and just paint her. 

So, I began with a sketch and a watercolor underpainting.

When I do a pastel I use masking tape on the corners of my paper and attach it to a piece of foam core as a backing while I am working.

After the watercolor paint dried, I began working with my pastels. When the original photo was taken Graeme had a cast on her arm - it's hiding behind her leg - and she was helping her sisters dig in the sand. You can just barely see her shovel. 

I thought the shovel needed to be more visible after I got this far. Here you can also see the many colors that I use creating skin tones. It's amazing to me that the greens, blues, oranges, pinks, reds, purples all go together to make up the illusion of skin! I haven't done much with the water yet.

So now the shovel is positioned better, but standing back and looking at the painting on the left I could see that her shoulder blade was too low. I corrected that and spent some time on the water. In the original photo there was that little wave on the left - I put it in and kept looking at it. It was somehow distracting. So I took it out. That is one lovely thing about pastels - I can make changes like this.

I think it's about finished. Maybe a little more work on the shadows . . . ? I need to look at it from across the room for another few days and then I'll be sure. There is something about working on a painting too long - I just can't see it. A little time off and I'll come back at it with fresh eyes.

Time for a swim - Hurricane Arthur's winds are dying down where we live and it's a beautiful day!