Inspirations For The Watercolor Journey

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noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 01:49:00 +0000

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Arboretum Trees

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:50:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:36:00 +0000

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

Morning Light

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:21:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:49:00 +0000

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

Devin

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:21:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:12:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:49:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:03:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:44:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 03:31:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 03:26:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 01:25:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 16:12:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 00:28:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 21:45:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:54:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:54:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:46:00 +0000

"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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:39:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 15:22:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:51:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:44:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 03:07:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Watercolor Ways) — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 18:51:00 +0000

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