In class last week Jerry Stitt suggested an exercise for working loosely by choosing a subject and painting it as quickly as possible. I decided to try it but had no definite subject in mind, concentrating more on mood and color, thinking more in the abstract. I used burnt sienna, Indian yellow and neutral tint to create this watercolor in about 15 minutes. I started with the sky since I love painting dramatic skies. It was going to be a simple sketch with a few distant trees and a small foreground. The trees grew a bit more than I intended since I was working wet-in-wet on hot pressed paper. The foreground resembled a lake at first but I thought it a little boring, so I added some texture to make it look more like a marshy scene. I was quite please in the end with the result.
It suggests big rocks, ocean mist and sea spray to me. Love this one, Jean! Sometimes the quick ones work and are wonderful...just like this!
ReplyDeleteThanks Maggie. Had not thought about rocks, Hmm! I think I will try a few more because it was really fun to work fast, while at the same time trying to keep the elements and principles of design in mind.
ReplyDeleteThis is very successfully done. Trust your eyes. Trust your hands! You are onto something.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to more!
Wonderful Jean! I love the effects in the sky, and the limited palette is working very well. I agree, you are onto something; I hope we will see more like this.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous palette of earthy colours Jean. Very atmospheric. I love just playing with watercolour like this and often get much more pleasing and of course looser results.
ReplyDeleteAs always, such an evocative atmosphere. You did it with simple means and I find that you never work laboriously, which is an art in itself!
ReplyDeleteMelinda: Thank you. Hope you are right about being onto something. I will experiment some more.
ReplyDeleteMineke: I always do like working with a limited palette but have not used Indian yellow much in my work before. I think I may add this to my palette.
Michael: Watercolor really is fun to play with, isn't it. So many things can happen that one does not expect.
Marie: Thanks so much for your generous comments.
I like the simplicity with which you have arrived at this piece.. the yellow was a great decision that has breathed life in to this one Jean..
ReplyDeleteThank you Padmaja.
ReplyDeleteA well executed wet-in-wet and a lovely pallette choice. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteThank you John.
ReplyDeleteWOW! I love the mood it conveys, and that palette you chose is perfect! It's extremely inspiring to know you did this in such a short amount of time. I love it!
ReplyDeleteHi Jean you have been very successful working wet into wet. Very bold use of colour that has blended in beautifully to create drama. I especially like the colours you have chosen they really do go very well together. Lovely painting you must be delighted with the result.
ReplyDeleteI love the beautiful effects that the pigments have created. Very exciting and inspiring painting!
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