Alliteration in the title and in repetition in the pictures. You've been warned.
One of our exercises in today's workshop was to practise wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques when painting some cute little birds. Because this was not a drawing workshop, I gave each artist a bird cutout to trace around. They arranged them in whatever design they wished and then practised what they'd learned about these two techniques.
Aren't these CUTE?? They look like they are wading in puddles.
The birds below look a little bit sinister to me. Like they are dressed for Halloween. So much character.
Everyone around the table had their own way of interpreting the exercise. These are lovely. They look like they could be used in wallpaper or fabric.
It's not easy to use the right amount of water on the page to allow the paints to flow. This artist has a good handle on how to do that.
I love the vibrancy that the artist below achieved. Her birds look like they have attitude.
And, the final ones show a good understanding of tonal differences. Notice the bird on the left is far more colourful that the next one and the far right one is a much lighter tone. Mostly the same colours were used, just less paint and more water as she went from right to left.
One of the early exercises was to come to an understanding of tonal differences within the same colours. Less paint, more water as you go from left to right.
In watercolour painting, the paper is your white. So, less paint on the paper allows more white to shine through to the viewer's eyes - resulting in a lighter colour.
Exploring wet-on-wet is fun when you do it in tiny pictures..... like marbles..... or marbles that turn into speech balloons when they drip.
After lunch, everything that was learned in the morning was put into practise.
Every artist made their own blacks mixing French Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna.
And, everyone's unique styles emerged. This one is going to look great when it's finished.
The artist below took a drawing workshop and one session of classes with me in recent years. She has a good understanding of creating texture and was able to apply what she knew from drawing to painting. Great texture in the grasses at the base of the trees.
Another 15 or 20 minutes and the painting below will be finished. It draws you in, doesn't it?
Our only man in the workshop today did a fine job. His painting has a Group of Seven feel to it.
It was an honour to spend the day with these lovely artists. I hope they continue to paint. They all have a good eye.
“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty.
Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”
Franz Kafka