Arty McFarty

[amberdreams]

This week I went on a three morning workshop in Colchester to learn the basics of watercolours. There were only four of us, and it was interesting to see how different everyone's styles were, and the different levels ot experience and abilities. Anyhow, I had fun and I think this one was more useful than the other one day  workshop I did a while back, as this tutor spent more time on how to use different brushes, plus I liked her approach working with a single colour to really show how much variety you can get in adding more or less water. Simple stuff but that was exactly what I needed.

Herewith a picspam of my three mornings.

We started with the 4 different brushes and testing their mark making, then went onto the single colour landscapes.


Burnt sienna turns out quite nice, even on weirdly regular textured paper like this.


John Constable, eat yer heart out, here's my Willy Lott's Cottage, Dedham.

Just three colours used - French ultramarine, transparent yellow and burnt sienna.

This one's actually my fave - I just love the colours, especially the plums. We were only supposed to be using two colours, but my plum had this lovely golden glow amongst the purples, so I used cadmium red and transparent yellow, as well as the alizarin crimson and Prussian blue.


Then the last morning we went back to landscapes, and did river estuary for the big skies (which the scanner lost because it's too bright) and then some French cottages in a single colour and a big broad brush.

Making us use the one big brush was good for me, it stopped me fiddling too much, plus I like the brush marks. I must try all these techniques again before I forget everything!


Today it was back to digital for my second spn_reversebang art, but I've also done an experimental watercolour background and left it to dry upstairs. Maybe I can get some use out of it for something.

Comments

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Oh! So pretty! I especially love the cottage.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think this is one of those things (like playing the accordion) where the person doing the thing enjoys it a lot more than anyone else. LOL

[jimbobjoe.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love the Burnt sienna landscape!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[fufaraw]

And I'm especially fond of the lake, sky, clouds, one. All the blues, and the *light*!

Watercolors are *hard*, but so rewarding. Every time I've tried them I manage to surprise myself with an effect I didn't intend, but which works.

I should practice more. But you--both cottages are wonderful, and I love the *roundness* of the fruit! I think my favorite, though is the horizon line and cattails.

Gorgeous!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I think that's exactly the skill part, knowing how to get those awesome effects on purpose instead of accidentally!! Not sure I'm ever going to get there but it's fun trying. :D

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

How pretty! People who can art blow my mind!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

*boom*!!! Ha ha ha! It's the things we can't do ourselves that make other people's skills impressive, huh.

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! I especially love the cottage and the fall colors of the trees, the lake-and-cattails, and those gorgeous clouds. So pretty! ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

So you call bullrushes cattails? Interesting! I had no idea. So in the bible when they talk about finding Moses in the bullrushes, does an American version say cattails instead?

And thank you!

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

Nah, the Bible still says "bullrushes." But you know us Yanks, we've just gotta be weird like that. ;)

"Bullrushes" or "cattails," I love that piece!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Ah you Yanks, indeed. ;-)

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

the burnt sienna one is my favorite, but i really like the estuary too. and the apples are a great color. well, colors.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

The burnt sienna seems to be winning the popular vote! Thanks!

[julchen11.livejournal.com]

wow! all pics are simply gorgeous... I can only but stare... Very well done, sweetie!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks, petal.

[zara-zee.livejournal.com]

These are all gorgeous. Once again I'm impressed by your talent. Glad you enjoyed the three days and felt that you got some good tips and techniques out of the sessions.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thankee kindly, it was indeed, fun!

[tyrsibs.livejournal.com]

Wow, these are all great! I love the single color farmhouse, the depth of color and detail in that. And your plum looks good enough to eat!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Sadly we weren't allowed to eat any of the fruit...! LOL
Thank you!

[anactoria.livejournal.com]

Wow, these are fab! Those plums really do look amazing.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks. I admit I was feeling quite peckish after painting all the fruit but sadly our tutor took all the pieces back when we'd done. LOL

[anactoria.livejournal.com]

Well, that's just rude. *g*

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

Oooh what beautiful artwork, I love how much can be done using one colour - the blue and white is my favourite, it looks like the Dutch porcelain, the name of which escapes me! I'm pleased you enjoyed the course and found it useful. And I used to go to Colchester a lot when I was younger as I had family in Essex (still do but haven't been to Colchester for about 20 years!)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Gawd, it took me a while but I finally remembered - Delftware!

I didn't know you had Colchester connections - small world, huh.

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

That's it - Delftware! Thanks :)

Yes, my uncle moved to a village near Maldon - my aunt and 2 of my cousins still live there and another of my cousins lives in Woodbridge. Uncle Jim was a teacher so he'd take his 5 boys on holiday in the summer for 2 weeks and we'd house sit for them, which meant chickens, cats, guinea pigs and a big garden with vegetables and fruit trees. It was heaven for us London girls! And we often went to Colchester to the shops, the Castle and the zoo.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

There's some lovely work there, it's amazing how much difference a decent tutor can make.

I've always struggled with watercolours, mainly, I think, because I'm a pastel specialist and the two techniques are so radically different. Also as a medium they don't particularly inspire me. I have occasionally seen some brilliant watercolour work, but on the whole, I find them a bit wishy-washy and bland.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yeah some watercolours are really washed out - sometimes that can work but mostly, like you say, it just looks bland. I love the effects you can make with them though, when done right.

[hugemind.livejournal.com]

I vote for big skies! :D But they're all so very pretty and all the colors look fantastic!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks petal!

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

These are all gorgeous and amazing for being just so few colors. It looks like a really fun class. I love the warm burnt sienna tones in the pond picture. Just lovely.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Damn, sorry for the late reply! But thank you! It was a fun class, I might go again but not until next year, I think.

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Ohhh these are beautiful! I really like the landscape pieces especially the burnt sienna and the waterscape. So very pretty!!!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much! And sorry for the late reply.

[aerynsun5.livejournal.com]

Lovely. I've missed this. I'm a big fan of watercolors, but am terrible with them myself. Same reason I can't make a good pie crust--too heavy handed. I'm happy to see yours, though.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I thought it was interesting to see how watercolours could be layered up to give much richer colours - I bet you aren't even half as bad as you think!

[jainas.livejournal.com]

Good work, they are all very interesting!
I especially like the "reserve" of white being the light on the sea in the last seascape, and the way all the shadows are working in the last one: all very consistent and yet a bit differents, as the various walls and roof aren't the same color to start with!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It was a good way to get me to try things out - That water effect was clever and so easy really - it's just making the texture of the paper work for you. It wasn't something I'd have tried on my own. :D