Lesson #4 - Learning some watercolour techniques

[Kelley]

C.B. you are doing a wonderful job.  May I humbly suggest not to forget the second reflection of the boulder (furthest) in the water.  It is coming along quite beautifully.  I love it!

[Kelley]

Lillian, you are using darker, bolder colours that really give your painting a dramatic effect.    

[Val]

C & Lilian.... Such wonderful work, both of you.
C, I still have to stop sometimes and slow down to remember the whites, it is difficult once you have trained yourself to think one way and now you want to turn it around. I think you are in the same stage as I, a bit intimidated by how strong w/c can be. I think I'm getting over it 
Lillian, I love your strong use of colour. As stated, I'm working on that aspect. Well....back to try the videos again.....

[Maryna]

It is official for me now - no more watercolours, my work is  and I actually don't like it anymore. I did the beach scene and before I started I said to myself, this is going to be the most beautiful beach I have ever done and then omw suck suck.

I am done with watercolours. I know my husband is going to be  for all the money I spend on the paint etc but so be it. Guess maybe this means I am too dominant I like to be in control and that is just why I love oil.

 

I am sorry oom Dennis, I tried and this just aint for me 

[Lillian]

C. Bodine!!!  I missed seeing your seascape painting!  My apologies!  I posted my photo last night. looked around here for a time and went to bed.

I love your painting! 

I really like the water and I can see the sand extending out under the water.  It's very lovely! 

As Kelly already mentioned, the reflection of that second big rock will make it complete. 

   everyone for your kind remarks on my painting.

[Lillian]

Maryna, I don't know what Dennis will have to say to that.   

My philosophy is that if I am not having fun with it and don't feel some sense of accomplishment, I would move on to the media that would do that for me.  I'm the type who likes a challenge, otherwise I would have given up on watercolor a long time ago.  I think it's the hardest medium to accomplish and for me, it's a long road to get to where I want to be.

It's no fun to feel like you're wasting your time and heading down a dead end road. 

I say, use whatever media you love the most.  But, may I suggest though, that you just doodle around a bit with the paint and paper in your spare time, not doing any serious project, just getting used to how the paint and paper react together.  Try painting something very simple now and then.  That way, you may gradually work into it and that way, you won't feel like you wasted your $$$.   

[Maryna]

very true, I will stick with oils for now, who knows what the future may hold

 

[C.Bodine]

Kelley, thank you for your input. Of course, you can make a suggestion! (As always, in your kind and humble way!  )I will go back to the rock reflection when I try to darken the water a little.

Lillian, it is easy to miss things on here.  If a post is at the beginning of a new page, I always go back one page.  I realized I was missing A LOT when I didn't do that. Thank you for your comments.  It means a lot when a person with better skills is encouraging.

Val, I started with Nolan in oils. With oils, you start out with DARKS and go to LIGHTS. With wc, you start out with LIGHTS and go to DARKS. I just can't seem to get a grip on that.  I also struggle with color mixing still. I know what I'm suppose to do, but it just doesn't seem to come out right.  All this will eventually be second nature and we will both throw out masterpieces every week, I'm sure.   

Maryna, I understand how you feel.  If you don't enjoy something, go with what you do enjoy! That is kind of the point in being an artist. I get really frustrated when my work doesn't turn out like I want.  I'm just so convinced, when I sit down to paint, my picture is going to come out great!   Of course, that comes with experience and practice.  Even though I struggle and I still prefer oils, I do like wc a lot, so I will keep trying.   

[NHC50]

Lillan love you seascape.    You are thinking outside the box.
Nina

[dennis]

Maryna, the whole object of the 4 free lessons was to let people know what I paint and how I teach and, most importantly, get the feel of watercolours to see if they like the medium or not. It is completely natural that some will like it and some will not. I respect that. There are some areas of art that are also completely not for me.

I have absolutely no hard feelings against anyone who does not like some of the things I do - after all I have been painting since 1946 and teaching approx 28 years. I have long past got over disappointments. If I had to worry over all the so-called disappointments I would be a very old wrinkly man walking around with crutches

Do you know what my biggest disappointment would be? If you had to stop painting completely.

So, smile pick up your brushes and carry on with your oil painting. Don't give up on watercolours completely, you have the equipment, but this time just dabble with them. Some time, some how, suddenly everything will gel. May your painting career be a very joyous one as we travel the art road together.

[Lyndy]

All your paintings look so good    I am still busy with no 3     Sorry Dennis, I'll catch up and post mine, just a little hectic at home at the moment. 

[Val]

Maryna, as Dennis said, w/c is not for everyone. I hope you don't feel badly about it, sometimes I think it is not so much the artist that chooses the medium, but the medium which chooses the artist. Could be why I  so often! 
I look forward to seeing you create and grow as we travel along this artistic road...besides, it's all the same road we travel really...just different vehicles. 

[Leana]

C, I think your painting looks really great. Well done.

[Leana]

Lillian, well done on your beach scene... Love the colours you used.

[C.Bodine]

Thank you, Leana.