LESSON #72 - Painting Azaleas

[MaryAnne Long]

I'm happy that some of you made it through to a nice finished product.

My experience was TOTAL DISASTER. 

First, I did not see the place to send a message to tell you that I could not chat.

Then, my bottle of masking fluid had the thick creamy stuff on top like Dennis mentioned.  I tipped it and the fluid below the creamy stuff flowed all over my palette!  Had to stop to clean that.

Next, in trying to clean up, I knocked over the masking fluid jar.  More clean up.

By the time I got the masking fluid applied to the flowers, Dennis was painting the background so I was mixed up on the colors.

When I went to take the masking fluid off, it ripped the top layer of paper, so I had no more template to follow!

Then, when I finally did finish as best I could, my new camera decided it would not work!!

And, for the last insult, the new Frog Tape (for delicate surfaces) managed to lift a slight layer off the paper, even after my using the hair dryer to loosen it.

But, I will scan my results anyway.

Details

aloha mea

[Val]

Yikes! You did have fun today didn't you?     Look, in the end you actually finished the paintalong!  That's saying something. Don't ask me what...it just is. 

You finished, have a painting that is totally recognizable, and now have a clean studio!  BONUS!!!

Well done lovey...you've attained another level. 

Next time....shake the livin' bejeeses out of the masking fluid before you open it. It does help. 

[MaryAnne Long]

Thanks, Val.  I almost gave up, but figured Dennis puts so much work into these classes that I was going to see it through.

It's amazing, though, every time I make a real mess of things, I have something "recognizable" in the end.

Thanks, Dennis.  I enjoyed doing the paint-along even though I was in turmoil the whole time.

Oh, I do want recommendations on what kind of paper to use and help to figure out why I had only "DISCONNECT" and "SEND" as options in my chat box this week.

aloha

mea

[doina]

Well mea, CONGRATULATIONS! you have a finished paint along painting! I like your background! The flowers have the azalea color! Sorry for your mis-haps! Well, next time will be better, and with less emotions! The painting is not bad at all. Doina

Natalie, beautiful painting and especially a paint-along! 

Harald, nice painting! Congratulations!!!!  I had the same problem:mixing ultramarine and yellow ochre gave me more blueish-greyish color than green. I'll try again!

Sorry Patricia for the mis-happs. At least it was not your fault. I was a dummy: I dipped my brush in the water where I cleaned my masking fluid brush Now I have 2 petals with pink and masking fluid mix. I see what I can do with that!! That may make or break the resuraction!! Doina

[Happychappy]

Val, you asked for it.  A right mess but here it is for what it is worth!!  Patricia
 

Details

[Happychappy]

Harald a good job on your painting.
 
Bella, losing my cool is one thing but I lost my mind too!!!
 
Natalie a beautiful job you have done, be proud.
 
Doina, talk about snakes, have you had a look at mine??
 
Mea it seems like you and I had a disastrous day but luckily we are still hanging in there.  I will wait for the replay when I will be much calmer to have a second go at this famous Azalea.  We must never give up.
 
Patricia

[MSWcrane]

I did it!!!  I followed Dennis and finished a live painting class (my 1st ever Watercolor, and my 1st ever live class)     

Now for the not so good stuff...  I didn't have all the colors Dennis used.  No green, no Yellow Ocher.  Well that made for fun (only had 4 colors Aliz Crimson, UM Blue, CadYellow and Burnt Sienna)  so had to do some quick mixing, did it, but that put me behind following his directions. 
Then the masking fluid would not come off, so that set me further behind trying to get rid of it and then catching up was impossible...     

... what you see is what you get, I did finish it, the best I could

Details

[MaryAnne Long]

That's even better than mine, Sue.  You did well for the first time.

Isn't it fun?  You have to think fast to keep up with Dennis, but you sure learn a lot.

aloha

mea

[MaryAnne Long]

Not bad at all, Patricia!  I especially like your green wavy grasses (or weeds?).  You were so busy painting that you didn't have time to wed the azalea bed.

Sometimes obstacles bring out the best in us.

aloha

mea

[MaryAnne Long]

Doina,

Thanks.  I don't feel as bad now as I did about 30 minutes into the class.

I chuckled when I read your comment about dipping the brush in the masking fluid water.  That's the ONLY thing I did not do wrong!



aloha

mea

[Happychappy]

    Wow, Sue, you did a great job with your first ever watercolour and paint a long!!  Excellent despite not having all the colours too ... just shows you what you can do when you have to hey??
 
Thanks for your comforting words Mea.  My weeds/wavy grass look like snakes!!!  Anyway, what the heck, I tried and will do better next time. 
 
Patricia.

[doina]

Patricia, I like your painting. I like your flowers. Now, if you take a 3/4inch flat brush and wet it a bit, then go with the brush lightly above the snakes, you'll see how they disapear! You may have to come with a wash over later, but that's not a big deal for you. I see that you're determined to do another one! Good for you, but why not give a try to dampening this one. I realy like the flowers and the upper background. You captured the rest of the azelea bush.  Doina

[Lillian]

I had to take time out to make supper and I'm back.


I'm astounded at the number of paint alongs that have appeared!  Some of you have been hanging around Dennis for a very long time and others, not quite so long and, well, what can I say?  Good show everyone!!!   


...but    Mea and Sue!  It's incredible that you did a paint along with Dennis and this is your very first time at watercolour!  You just wait and see, you will be real proud of your progress, just give it time and lots of practice.


    Sorry, Sue, I called you Pat!      I came back to modify my post.      

[Fencepost]

What an amazing group of artists!!! Never can i imagine actually painting along with Dennis. Your paintings are all spectacular given what you went through.   

[Val]

  SUE!!!!  Well look at you! Not only your first watercolour painting....but your first paintalong...and you've aced it!           Great colourings, nice flowers...boy I'm gonna start worrying like you do! Really seems to help. 

I'm thrilled to bits for you. Well done.