"Wicker Bounty" Watercolor - Step 3 (Finished)

LOVE the texture of rough watercolor paper

I am trying to keep some of my paintings looser and softer looking. I decided not to totally detail the wicker and each separate leaf. I am not sure if it is the right choice and I really, really want to get back in there and DETAIL. It was very difficult for me to stop and leave it looking more relaxed. Same goes for the softer background. I chose rough surface watercolor paper to give it texture and am working on 18X24" this time. I am a detail loving artist and my favorite paintings are my super detailed oil still lifes on masonite (each and every little speck and line shows). It is hard to break old routines, but that is why I love watercolor- the loose quality that is possible.

I couldn't help myself from putting in the darker areas since they really seemed necessary to help suggest the light areas without going into too much detail and over-painting. Most of the darker shadow areas are just more layers of Payne's Gray. I used some Burnt Umber and Cad Red mixes in the dirt and in the leafy areas. The leaves are mixes of Sap Green, Olive Green, and Burnt Umber. I also used Raw Sienna on the leaves so it wasn't just shades of green. The cushion is Burnt Sienna, Sap Green, and a wash of Burnt Umber. Some of the mum petals are put back in with white gouache to give them a stronger look.

Thanks for looking!

Sheryl

"Wicker Bounty" Step 2

I started this watercolor by putting in a wash of Cobalt and Ultramarine Blue, working wet-on-wet. I am painting on 140 lb rough surface paper. I love the rough surface because I want that watercolor paper texture. Starting with some background color helped to define the white wicker. As usual, I couldn't wait to get to the details, so I jumped around a bit to get some colors on the paper.

I am using Payne's Gray to give the wicker some shape, but really want to not paint every separate piece of wicker. I want to show that it is wicker without getting too into detail like I usually do. I started with Sap Green and Chromium Oxide Green for the leafy greens. The reds are mixes of Cad Red and Thalo Red and the pots are Cad Red and Burnt Sienna.

My watercolor supply is a mixture of Windsor&Newton and Grumbacher, depending on the colors I want at the time and availability. I often order online and like to try out different brands of the same color. Basically, I use whichever color is working for me at the time and try not to get too stuck on a brand name unless there is a major difference.

Next, I will be continuing with my details and getting to the darks.

Thanks for looking!

Sheryl

Postcards from Paris

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to spend a couple weeks in Paris! My husband was going on a business trip and I was able to go along. He travels constantly, and usually I am not tempted to go with him. Some of the locations just aren't interesting enough. This time, I loved the destination- and my sons were already grown and out of the house. He had asked me to go on many of these business trips, but leaving 2 high school boys home alone for more than a day or two- need I say more?

Paris is a beautiful city with lots to see and a lots to paint! While my husband was in meetings, I ventured out and took pictures for future paintings. Our hotel was quaint and small and located perfectly a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower. It was on the Rue St. Dominique and VERY nearby were the Seine with the Pont Alexandre, Rue Cler, and the Eiffel Tower! I had so much fun walking around, and as long as I kept the Seine nearby, I figured I couldn't get too lost. I spent a day at the Rodin Museum- highlights being "The Thinker" and "The Gates of Hell" (a bit creepy, but a fascinating work of art). The food was awesome! Patisseries and boulangeries everywhere (like delis on Long Island-every corner). When my husband was not working, we definitely went all over and saw even more- The Louvre and Jardin des Tuileries, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, and everything in between!

While we were there, I also mailed some watercolor postcards I had painted of some of my favorite places in Paris. I mailed them home to a few of my favorite people. I had seen an article in one of my watercolor magazines about an artist who did that wherever he travelled and loved the idea! The French woman working at the post office thought I was crazy when I insisted on putting the stamps on the painted side, but I figured I would never see her again anyway.. I had done a similar thing with our vacation to Italy, except didn't have the postcard idea until we were home. That time, I painted from our photos and had my wonderful son (who was stationed at Aviano airbase in Italy) take them to his post office in Italy. So, I didn't mail them myself, but still got my postcards!

Since that vacation, I often go through the gazillions of photos I took and find new ones to paint. Between the photos from Italy and the ones from Paris, I will be painting from them far into the future I am sure.

Thanks for looking!

Sheryl