In Living Color 34 - Succulent

It seems that every now and again I find an artist that I really like and want to see if I can duplicate their style.  I found such an artist in a book at the library.  Library's are really great places!  This time the book also included a step-by-step video to watch.  What a bargain!  The artist is Birgit O'Connor here and she likes to do really BIG paintings.  I have tried a few of her works and here is one that I feel I didn't do my best and actually have not completed yet but maybe when I finish it I will feel a little better about it.  I will post the other paintings I've done of hers at a later date.

Succulent
Watercolor
11"X15"

In Living Color 26 - Boat

I'm not sure it's even worth showing this next painting since there is so little of it completed but in order to move ahead to future paintings I will.  This was the next painting in line that Therese worked on with us and the drawing was different than the photo it was taken from.  I got started but as you will see didn't accomplish much and I haven't taken the time or effort to go back to it.  First because I am not the best at working up a painting without an original photo/picture to work from and second because everything but the boat was unavailable to view.  Some day I will attempt to complete it just to say I did.

Boat- Original Photo

 

 

Boat - Watercolor

In Living Color 18 - Bananas

One of the next projects Therese had us work on was setting up still life's.  Each of us was asked to bring items to make the still life including fruits.  I chose bananas with a bowl and hand towel and set it up as pictured below.  After we had our still life's in place everyone got out their cameras and took shots of each set up for future paintings if desired.

Bananas - Still Life

 

As I was painting the banana watercolor I decided the colors in the picture didn't really do it any justice and decided to make a few changes.  I didn't want a white dish and since I love cobolt blue I chose it to brighten up the bananas along with orange since it's a complementary color to blue and goes well with yellow.  I really love the color combination.  Now for the part I wish I could change.  First I haven't finished the painting because fabric is not easy for me to paint so I have to work out one little section at a time.  Then I haven't worked on this piece for probably over a year and big mistake I didn't write down the color combination I used for the fabric so I'll have to do some experimenting to come up with a good match.  And last but not least I am never sure how to complete the backgrounds and I don't want it to appear as if it were floating.

Bananas - Watercolor

The next still life painting I put together was from items I found around the house.  I love cats and birds and had the little bird figurine I decided to use, along with a couple of books that would color blend and add a little humor  with one having the title of "The Company of Cats".

Bird vs Cats- Still Life

 

Like the above painting this one also fits the unfinished category due to the background and what to do with it.  I figure if I think about it long enough something will eventually come to me. Divine inspiration would be good, hint, hint.

 

Bird

Watercolor

11"X15"

 

 

Things seemed to go well with the still life set ups so one class in the future we had another still life day where that was all we did.  Each person brought  one or more items that could be set up for still life shots that were placed on several tables so everyone could do their own photo shoots for future paintings.  We had so much variety to choose from and after everyone took the photos they were interested in we could mix and match any of the items for our own personal set ups.  I enjoyed doing this and have a lot of pictures that I may someday use for a painting.

In Living Color 15 - Island

Now that we have had a couple of weeks to learn the basics Therese decided we could go for the gusto and start painting a few small pictures to put in practice some of those techniques as well as a few she would teach along the way.  Therese brought in cartoons of the pictures we would practice on so that everyone in the class was working on the same project.  The first one had many techniques to try such as sky, trees, sand, water and rocks to name a few.  Believe it or not we spent most of that day on one picture by first watching Therese demonstrate an area then painting that area and waiting for it to dry before starting the next step. Below is my finished picture.

Island - Watercolor


Our next picture included many of the same techniques as the last one but were painted in a vertical position rather than horizontal as you can see below.

Waterfall - Watercolor



Once again we did water but this time it was totally different and in case you didn't notice I didn't complete mine.  One day I need to finished it so it doesn't look so strange.  It will be an interesting project to complete on my own but worth a try.

Ocean - Watercolor

 

The above three pictures took us three weeks to work on so now we are on week six and starting a new lesson on leaves.  In the first set of leaves we were learning various shapes, colors veining and hopefully dimension.

Leaves 1

On this set it was a different shape and curving it to show dimension and shading.

Leaves 2

Here we worked on veins and attaching the leaves to a stem.

Leaves 3



I have to admit at this point I am not very impressed with the above but over time I have learned to do a much better rendition of a leaf.





Just Black & White 14 - John & Wendy

Today, unfortunately, I will be adding another unfinished work for your viewing.  Prior to starting with watercolors, while I was still working with graphite drawings, I decided to start what I had planned on being a series of portrait drawings.  This series was the engagement pictures of the three oldest children.  I started with John and Wendy since John was the first son although they were actually the last to get married.  Here is their engagement picture that I worked from.


John & Wendy - Engagement Photo

First I needed to start making the cartoon that I would work from.  I used the grid system for this and drew each detail square by square.  For this process see June entry Just Black & White 11 .

Once the cartoon was finished I transferred it to the drawing paper.  I used Arches hot press watercolor paper because it has a very smooth surface to work on with a more professional finished look.  Here is the cartoon.

John & Wendy - Cartoon

I spent many months on the portion I completed with the most time being spent on getting Johns hair just right.  I should have waited until he had a buzz it would have been easier.  Anyway I did complete the most important and difficult areas and the rest of it should be a piece of cake in comparison.  I'm not sure at what point I will get back to it since I am finally feeling like I'm making good progress with watercolor and don't want to interrupt that process.  I do plan on completing it and also plan on doing the other two children as well.  I just hope I live so long.  Here is my unfinished drawing.

John & Wendy - Unfinished Drawing

I believe it was from this drawing that I received the comment from Louise that I was a photo realist.  I guess I'm inclined to agree.

In Living Color 8 - Metals

After spending time doing fruits and vegetables it was time to try something new even though I did return to do more produce a little later.  Next on the list was the art of painting metals.  After looking around the house to see what might be interesting to paint I came up with the following.


Metals - Still Life

The coffee pot was one belonging to my mother and the copper pot is one I picked up to simmer potpourri.  I thought doing two different metals would be a fun challenge.  It was a challenge but unfortunately I didn't completed the coffee pot.  I still need to do the coffee pot if only to say that I did.  Here is my next unfinished work.

Metals - Watercolor

Just Black & White 12 - St. Augustine Porch

I have avoided this posting for a while but have decided that postponing it will not change the outcome in any way.  I am starting a new category and in doing so I hope it will motivate me to get on the ball and do something about it.  What am I babbling about?  Unfinished works!!  I know I’m probably not the only one that has them but it goes against the grain of my personality.  I just hope this category doesn’t surpass the completed works at some point.

This drawing was started shortly after I finished the drawing of Gary and Grace so it gives you an idea of how old it is.  It’s not like I haven’t worked on it in all that time.  I get it out every now and then and work on it, I just don’t keep with it long enough to finish it before I’m back working on watercolors. 

The picture I’m working from was taken in the town of Saint Augustine on the coast of Florida at the Old St. Augustine Village Museum.   St. Augustine is known as the oldest city in the United States.  For more information about St. Augustine click here. This picture is a shot of the front porch of the house in the village.


St. Augustine Porch

Here is my unfinished drawing.