Lesson #4 - Learning some watercolour techniques

[Dham]

C. and Lillian  Beautiful work!
Lillian are you in Brockville ON? I used to live in Kingston and work at BGH. Left the freezing rain for the south12 years ago
Denise

[Lillian]

  Leana & Denise!

Brockville indeed, by the beautiful St. Lawrence River & the Thousand Islands.  But    I will send you a personal message.   

[eftpower1]

Just a brief note:   I am very impressed with all the paintings that have been posted. From each of you I "see" things I hope to incorporate in my work as I progress.

This has been a challenging week in terms of getting  two paintings behind and not sure if I will catch up by Sunday

With luck will get "Simplify #1"  done and posted and start on "Techniques 1"

Dennis. Lillian is a "ringer" isn't she?  Her work is so professional that I just know you got her to post paintings here to give us something to aim for   her job is to keep us 

Lillian: in all honesty. What a powerful painting  It never crossed my mind to change the tonal qualities to turn it into sunset. Masterly done

Karen: Just went back and took a second look at how others did things and  this time I got hooked on your reflections .. NICE JOB!!  This time, my eye kept going back.

[Maryna]

I decided to face the music, here is my beach, I would appreciated some honest feedback no matter how bad 

During frustration my paper ripped - but anyway.

This is exactly why I don't think w/c is not for me   

[Helenty]

Your painting looks fine from here Maryna , don't worry you are not the only one who gets frustrated with wc but i am determined to learn to use it well but will also keep working in oils.I have looked at all the works on seascape and i am very apprehensive about trying it myself but i will have a go,am just finishing the acrylic one first have done half of that one and it will be interesting to see how i cope with acrylics as i have not used them for many years.

[Val]

I'm having trouble getting your photo to expand, tried your gallery but didn't see it there. Since I'd like to give you an honest opinion I'll have to pass until I can see it properly.
Can't locate my  my magnifying glass, which I have used on previous occassion...... Dennis, you're up. 

[Maryna]

I finally decided to give the watercolours another go. I will continue to learn and see from there before I really just pack it in.

Don't know why I am so hard on myself, sis on me 

Gotta crawl before I can walk hey 

[Lillian]

Maryna!  I'm so proud of you!  You did a splendid job on your beach painting.   

I especially love how you did the waves!    

Water color is exactly that -- water color.  I can see how you allowed the pigment to flow onto the paper and it gives a nice loose, watercolor-y effect, like a watercolor painting should be! 

I think you're off to a great start, a lot better than my first paintings were, that's for sure!  It just proves what a great teacher Dennis is.

May I suggest that you put a date somewhere on your painting, either on the front or back.  I'm sure that if you spend some time practicing now and then, in time, you will look back and see how you've progressed.

 

[C.Bodine]

Maryna,  You did it and it looks very nice! It is so easy to be hard on ourselves.  We want to be instant proficient artist! We are getting there.  Glad to here you're going to stick with it a little longer!

Helen, the first beach I did, I got to the water and threw it away! It was embarrassing for ME to look at, much less show it on here.  I was determined, though.  Tried again and the next one came out better.  Not as good as some of the wonderful ones on here, but decent for a beginner. Don't be intimidated by others art. (I have to tell myself this all the time! )Do your best and watch yourself grow!!!

[dennis]

Wow    Wise words coming out here from beginners for beginners.

[nolan]

Awesome job Lillian AND Maryna - I don't see anything wrong with your painting, it's lovely and up to the standard of everybody else

I think it's just a case of realising that watercolours give you a more free effect than the oils and you have to accept that the watercolours will flow around, so don't try and control them as much as the oils, put them where you want them and then let them do their own thing. Later when you get more experienced, you will gain more and more control.

[erika]

I think everyone has had a great start to w/c and the pictures on the gallery proves that..

I've been wanting to master w/c for ages - ever since I saw my sisters botanical w/c framed and on her wall (btw frames for watercolours are like the proverbial cherry on top - it just doesn't pop until you've placed it in one of those...)

Dennis and Nolan, you've proved to me that through good instruction anyone can at least try their hand at w/c and come away with something pleasing to the eye.

And I think w/c is the hardest medium there is - mastering it will be like conquering Everest - lots of planning (prep), following through (sticking with it) and phoning your mum on the summit ("look Mum I did it!!").  And you don't even try climbing if you're not fit, so lots of training in the offing - that's what I like: lots of experimenting..

you have to accept that the watercolours will flow around, so don't try and control them as much as the oils, put them where you want them and then let them do their own thing. Later when you get more experienced, you will gain more and more control.

...thaaaaaat's what I like!! 

[Leana]

Maryna, your painting look great.  You can certainly be very proud of your accomplishment.  Well done. 

[sapphirelynn]

 My waves look to ridgid thanks to not applying the masking fluid properly. Wasn't thinking and just sort of squiggled it on, then when it came time to rub it off I realized that OH OH what was left in white did not really look like waves at all...to late now...oh well next time I will think of my masking fluid as negative painting..or perhaps just stick with acrylics..you can have the tide come and go till you are happy with it

[Maryna]

I love it! looks very nice