Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Squash Blossom Neacklace Watercolor

Watercolor on paper 8 X 10
My watercolor class students requested or suggested
that they would like to paint a squash blossom
necklace. One of the students had this lovely piece
I took a bunch of photos with an assortment
of backgrounds. This one was photographed on a 
turquoise painted table. I think I really like it on white.
Tomorrow I will make sure I get a good image of it.
With All My Art - Nathalie

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Watercolor Class Geraniums

Here is the class finished pieces.
They did a good job, don't you think so?  
I am so proud of them. I have enjoyed teaching 
color blending, washes, which brushes, why wet in wet, etc.
But, my favorite part has been getting to know the
ladies that had been taking the classes.
Chatting over palettes of freshly mixed paints and a new piece
of paper is just as good as sharing over a cup of coffee.
We might have to paint this sometime.
Thanks for stopping by!

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Thursday, June 23, 2011

Teaching a Watercolor Class

"Geraniums and Clay Pots" 
This will be the watercolor class lesson today.
I started teaching a watercolor class in February of this year. 
It has been an amazing time. 
Them: Why do you mix those colors? 
Why does her green look different than my green? 
How did you do that? Oh my! I have a bloom! 
Now, what do I do? My painting doesn't look like your painting? 
 
Me: (Not the answers to the above questions) 
Wow! That turned out nice! I really like that effect!
Let's see if we can fix that. Hmm!?! 
What if you add a ...? Wait! Don't get ahead of me. 
You need more water. You need more pigment...
You know who has learned the most by teaching the class?
ME!!!

One of my favorite teaching quotes:
"Tell me and I will probably forget.
Show me and I might remember.
Involve me and I will never forget.."
That is the method that I try to use in my classes.
Check be later and I will show you what we did in class today.

Friday, June 17, 2011

More New Technique - Loose, Detailed Watercan


I really enjoyed the bright, colorful technique I
used on the San Miguel Mission watercolor.
So, here we go again.
I reserved my white areas with masking fluid.
Then, I brushed the entire surface with clear water.
I dropped in colors. The colors look randomly placed
but they are not. Burnt sienna was placed in the
flower pot area. Purple and turquoise in
the shadow and watercan vicinity.
I splattered in sap green, olive green, cad yellow,
and cad red. While the greens and reds were still wet,
I dropped in purple in the areas that will be
in shadow and a bit of burnt sienna just because.
After the painting was dry I began to add some
loose detail. This was the s-t-r-e-t-c-h for me,
since I love details
Hmm! If it's detailed,  how can it be loose and
if it's loose, how can it be detailed?
"Some Water, Some Plant..."
8x10 on Arches Paper
"So neither the one who plants, nor the one
who waters is anything, but only God,
who makes things grow."
1 Corinthians 3:7

Friday, June 3, 2011

San Miguel Mission - Trying Something New

The San Miguel Mission in Santa Fe
is the oldest mission in the United States.
Joe and I visited Santa Fe several years ago and I
found many wonderful sights to photograph.
The mission was one of those.
Well, this afternoon I decided to try a technique that
I have never used before. I started with just loose color 
mingling. Then, some details. I really enjoy the challenge 
of watercolors and realism so this semi loose
style is a stretch for me.
However, I do like the brighter colors.
Might have to try this again sometime.
 I painted the one on the left in '09and it is my watercolor
class project for thenext two weeks.
Just wanted to try some watercolor drama.
Let me know which one you like best.
Thanks for stopping by!

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