Inspirations For The Watercolor Journey

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2010-04-27T18:49:00.001-07:00

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Arboretum Trees

2010-03-12T16:50:00.000-08:00

The best thing about snow is the way it simplifies the landscape composition. I love the way the shadows look blue in the sunlight.

Near Cottage Hill

2010-03-03T17:36:00.000-08:00

This scene is on the way to school. Each day has its own unique sky.

Morning Light

2010-02-25T17:21:00.000-08:00

With over 72 inches of snow this year I will make the best of it and enjoy the patterns cast on all this white!

Freesia

2010-02-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

Every year I look forward to the spicy fragrance of the winter freesia.

Devin

2008-04-26T10:21:00.001-07:00

For quick drawings I limit my palette to three colors: this one is Permanent Rose, Cobalt Blue, and Raw Sienna. They are all transparent colors which create clear mixes of secondary colors.

Rose I

2008-04-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

The loose handing of the watercolor is a lot of fun in this type of figure drawing. This one was a 20 minute pose.

Australian Shepherd

2008-03-31T16:49:00.000-07:00

The portrait client wanted realism. I wanted deep saturated colors, almost an oil paint effect. It took a lot of time and layers to complete this one, but I think it works.

Winter Mandala

2008-02-03T16:03:00.000-08:00

This Mandala is part of a Seasons Series I began a few years ago. It is now available for sale as an archival quality giclee print, reproduced at the original size of 21" x 21" for $160. To order, contact charlene@watercolorways.com

Oak Leaves in Blue Glass

2008-01-20T15:44:00.000-08:00

I decided to set up a wall of still life objects to work from on cold days. I find it is key to get good direct lighting to set off the subjects and create dramatic darks and lights.

Figure on Gesso

2007-10-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

Its fun to try new surfaces, and this one was no exception. I gessoed a sheet of watercolor paper, and then used watercolor. It too, was done in a minimum of time so captures the image quickly and simply. I love the surprising textures and quality of paint that this surface affords.

Life Drawing 2

2007-09-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

I am back to weekly life drawing sessions. They really help keep the drawing skills sharp. This one was done in a 10 minute pose and captures the gesture with a minimum of detail.

CR girl 2

2007-03-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

This portrait is another experiment in using darker values. I may adjust the background even more, but in photographing the painting, it appeared luminous. I will set it aside and look at it later with a fresh eye before deciding whether its finished.

Redbud Girl

2007-01-31T08:12:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a watercolor sits 'not quite done' for a year or more. This is one such work that I keep picking up and adding to. Yesterday I darkened the background, and perhaps this time it really is done. Or not : )

Portrait of Maggie

2007-01-12T16:28:00.000-08:00

This is a commissioned painting, shown in two stages. The first image shows the initial set of washes laid in. The effect is spontaneous and loose. The second image is the finished piece. There is always something nice about the first washes that is lost once the subsequent layers are added. Even so, I was able to retain the ethereal nature of the cat, and am pleased with the final result.

Hibiscus

2006-12-09T13:45:00.000-08:00

This is an experiment on illustration board. I wanted to see how dark my colors would stay and how much lifting I could achieve on this surface. Starting with a poured background of yellow red and blue, I then added the details on top and pushed the color around with a plastic scraper.

Artist Pose

2006-11-21T07:54:00.000-08:00

From life drawing last night, this model is an art student at The Academy of Fine Arts, in Philadelphia. The graphite drawing was done on 11 x 15 paper, during a 15 minute pose.

Maple Leaf

2006-11-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the simplest subjects can be the most satisfing. A single leaf, or shell can hold the universe within its form. This painting was completed in less than an hour, using three colors.

Mercury in the Garden

2006-11-15T07:46:00.000-08:00

"Mercury" was painted on a bright day in early summer. The light in Gibralter Garden that day was so dazzling, it was hard to see. I found a spot in the dappled shade to capture Mercury's image.

Botanical Illustrations

2006-11-13T10:39:00.000-08:00

These illustrations are part of a series done for Haverford College Arboretum last spring. They appear in their campus tree tour brochure. Umbrella Pine, Bitternut Hickory, and Dove Tree are done in color pencil. I used a black ink outline as a base under the color which makes them appear sharp, since they are reproduced at about two inches high.

Clouds

2006-10-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

The hill behind my house blocks the sunset view, but sometimes the sky to the east gets great back lighting reflected on clouds. I captured this sky one evening after a thunderstorm, in transparent watercolor using only 4 colors.

CR Girl

2006-08-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

This painting was done of a child I saw while in Costa Rica. My friend Susan, who was along on the trip, now has the picture framed and hanging in her house.

Summer Solstice

2006-06-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

Summer is here! The longest day. Great weather to get outside and paint. Head for the shade and take lots of water. To drink and to paint with...paper will dry fast, so be prepared to work quickly, capture the mood, the light, and the season. I didn't have to go far to find this subject. "Waterlily" took about an hour to complete.

Life Drawing

2006-06-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

In this sketch I practiced exercises from a watercolor workshop last month. Keeping the washes fluid, moving, and connected. Lines to delineate the edges, shadow shapes to describe the form. One color to keep it simple. Perhaps more successful than a less focused approach. This was done in a night time life drawing session with intense spotlighting which emphasizes the shadows.

Welcome

2006-06-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the WatercolorWays blog: Inspirations For The Watercolor Journey.