LESSON #22 - Trees (Part 3) - Spring Time

[eftpower1]

Gail and Karen

WoW,

karen, I am very impressed with the delightful way you handled the "lawn" 

Gail, two things: 1) I admire your attitude and hope to emulate it.  I believe your approach is wonderful one for me to try..  Often, My works goes best when I JUST  instead of getting it "right"

2) Your approach WORKED!!! 

You each brought a different vision of  the painting to us.  Each of you enriched MY day by sharing beautiful works of art!
 
Brian

[Lillian]

Nice painting, Gail!!! 

It's great to hear you're doing a larger one!  How large is large?

This class really was inspiring, wasn't it!  I'm so glad Dennis showed us how to paint blossoming trees.  I never knew how to go about it, but always wanted to.

 :gl2:with your 

[Karen]

There's something about this one that makes it hard to leave it alone. I have messed with it again - intensified the sky and  put a person on the path. Yes, it is fun to paint along and it's great for someone like me who tends to be obsessed with detail  and takes a while to get started on a painting - you just have to get the paint onto the paper and give it a go. Paintbasket lessons are very well organised for painting along.

Details

[GailBrown]

I think I like this last version best Karen, the colours have a ittle more impact-and the person on the path sets it off.  The larger size I am trying is 15 x 20 paper, which after stretching and masking works out to about 10.5 x 16 painting surface.  I bought a couple of exhibition frames 18 x 20 and some white mats to go in.  These frames are great because they are easy to unclip to release the backboard to change pictures (my other frames were wood and were really hard/painful to switch paintings).  Not that expensive-about $30 and the mats were under $10.   I really bought them for my husband because he looks a little pained everytime I finish a painting and suggest we/he hang it in a frame for a while.  The pile of watercolour paintings is building, only a few marginally worthy of framing, and limited wallspace to do so anyway.  Bonus-the boxes that the frames came in will work great to store the pile of unframed w/c paintings I have.

[jennylynn]

karen I too think that the 2nd painting is better the figure on the path makes it and the colours seem better!  gail i too like your painting, are you going to post a pic of your larger one?  well done both of you   

[Tousabella]

Karen, I too like your second painting. You can almost smell the blossoms!

Gail, I've had to use smaller paper as the local shop only sells 9 X 12", and large sheets by the sheet.  I did find some 11" X 15" on line for a good price.  You are right...a little smaller makes it a whole different ball game.
Great job on your painting.

[Honeysuckle73]

Karen 2nd is better. Good Job. Apple Blossoms are so light and airy.   

[Val]

I think you've made some marked improvements. The colours are great and I like the addition of your person on the path. Great painting.   

[Lillian]

Nice work, Karen.  This one is definitely nicer than the first in my opinion, but I applaud you for painting along with Dennis and I agree that you would get a looser effect to your painting.  This one has a bit more detail and I really like the figure.     

[NHC50]

Nice job Karen on your second painting. 
NIna 

[eftpower1]

Karen

such a beautiful ethereal look, Powerful!

Gail,

Here in Northern New York, some of the "Dollar Stores"  have frames up to 11x14 inches for a dollar!  I use them to hang the painting I do for class and when I finish one that goes in the frame and the other comes out.  For me, it's important to hang the paintings someplace in the house where they can be seen. It's a way of valuing myself as an artist. It helps me keep my commitment to myself to continue working.

I ( actually Val) picked up a note book type 3 ring binder for 11 x 14 inch pages and I'm looking for plastic protector sleeves to fit it so I can  store my PB painting in safety.   

Nice work , guys

Brian

[Rkymtnmary]

Not gonna say anything...not gonna say anything...not gonna say anything...stuffing my hand in my mouth..but not gonna say anything!   

Details

[Lillian]

Mary, you did all that Dennis taught in the class, at least in my mind.

I love the big tree trunk and your people are looking good along the path. 

As for the blossoms, I think it's a matter of learning how to place the masking fluid on the paper to give the effect you want.

I'm looking forward to using this technique, but not until I'm through the drawing course.  I'm really falling behind in the watercolor exercises, but I'm enjoying the live classes and I love what everyone is showing us.

This is a new technique and practice, practice, practice will get us where we want to be.   

[Val]

Unfortunately  the time zones got the better or me.    So I didn't get to see much. I think you've done a good job.     My only thoughts would be to lighten the two 'coloured' trees a bit to give more depth. Very well done.   

[dennis]

Mary, you are worrying for nothing. You have captured the technique very nicely.  the more you play with it the better it will become. The tree trunk is fabulous - well done 

You became over enthusiastic, like some of the others, and added masking fluid into the two middle trees and made them too dark. They should not have blossoms - too far away for detail - and everything gets lighter as they recede into the distance. Other than that - well done