While I admire the art work of many artists, I somehow am especially interested in painting with watercolor paints, but have only fiddled around mostly on my own. Saturday, I had the joy of attending a watercolor workshop taught by Carolynn Wagler. First she had us experiment with four different kinds of color washes (upper page on the right). Then we started out with three free hand paintings on the lower right just trying to follow her example of forming cone flowers, northern lights over a house with trees and the moonlight gleaming on water. The last four paintings she had us use graphite paper to copy a sketch and then tried to help us see how we could shade the objects with different tones to add depth of detail.
This is Carolynn's painting of Buttercup, a local cow. Note the shadow of the daisy on Buttercup's nose. She showed us how to create the daisy and the shadow of the daisy, but painting Buttercup was our last painting of the day...our grand opus...and I was so tired from concentrating all day, I did not try to paint the daisy or the daisy's shadow. I was just happy to paint something that looked a little like Buttercup!
By Tuesday, I had recovered from all my concentrating on Saturday, and I looked up a photo of a colorful Bantam Rooster on Google images. Using a pencil I sketched out the general shape of the rooster and then began applying watercolors.
My three oldest granddaughters wandered in while I was painting and I invited them to join in the fun! We had a great time, but they took their work off to show their folks before I got a photo of their finished products.
While my Mr. Bantam is not as brilliant and glossy as his photograph, I did have a grand time painting him and am eager to practice and learn to become more skilled.
Are you practicing some skill that brings you joy?
Thanks Amy, for hosting Five on Friday and giving us the opportunity to share with each other in this format.
xx
Gracie
Oh how exciting. I always become frustrated at painting and I love watercolours. Every time j try my hand does not draw what I see!! I love your bantam. Keep going. Can't wait to see more
ReplyDeleteYou have a great hobby! Great looking watercolors.
ReplyDeleteYou can't beat a colourful hobby. Your paintings look great and I'm sure you will be out and about practising and seeing the world through different eyes.
ReplyDeleteWell done! I enjoy using watercolours but I'm not always pleased with the end results. Your Mr Bantam is rather handsome. I hope you're proud of him.
ReplyDeleteA great hobby, if I had more time I would love to get into water colour painting, not sure whether I would be any good at it though but would have fun trying.
ReplyDeleteHi Gracie, Mr. Bantam came out so beautifully. You have a real talent, I think. I'm glad you have found such an enjoyable and relaxing artistic hobby for yourself.
ReplyDeleteI love watercolors. How lucky you were to attend the workshop. I like your Bantam. "Coloring" with kids is lots of fun. Have a lovely week!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have had great fun. So absorbing! I must get myself along to a class one of these days. As you say it's good to learn something new. B x
ReplyDeleteLove this post! First let me say (as to your comment on one of my posts) that used books are the greatest treasure! I truly love them. How neat you used to own a book store! I think I am finding that you and I have a LOT in common! I paint, but my medium of choice is oils. I actually took a watercolor class many years ago and felt I couldn't handle the permanence of every stroke. With oils you can paint over your mistakes! :-) Have you seen my Mom's blog, Living Life on Main Street? She got me into blogging about ten years ago and she lives in Suffolk, Va. I miss her a lot. She dabbles with pastels, but has also oil painted in the past. I also get my love of books from her. LOVE the cow! And the rooster is great. Plus your grandkids did an awesome job! I'm hoping to take a painting class at some point after we get settled in OR. For a look at my tiles from the past, check out an old blog still on my list bluelotustile. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI like your cow and rooster. I watercolor too, but lately I've been using oil paints.
ReplyDeleteMr Bantom is very cute. I would love to be able to paint with watercolours.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your telling me of your class while we were on our trip to the hot springs on Wed. and then being able to see the photos to add to your story of it all was wonderful. I admire your determination to keep learning and improving your watercolor skills! Your banty rooster turned out spectacular!! I hope to join you at the pool on Monday. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteI have a great admiration for those of you who can paint. I love color, but my artistic skills are missing. My cousin was a wonderful artist and older than I, so guess she got all the talent before I was born. At least I can enjoy others efforts. You're doing very well!
ReplyDeleteGracie! This looks SO fun! I am so impressed with your talent and persistence in learning this new skill. Each and every painting is wonderful and I LoVe your cow! She's darling, flower or no. How special for the girls to come in and paint with Grandma. Your rooster looks so proud and the colors are perfect. Thank you for sharing the fun of this class with us. I've never been able to draw or paint so I really enjoy and admire those of you who do. Love you my friend.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
What fun you are having Gracie! It's been years since I took an art class. I loved seeing your watercolors. And, Mr. Barman looks so regal with his beautiful feathers. You are very talented. Hugs, Pat
ReplyDeleteMr Bantom is looking cool! Glad to know you had a fun time at the workshop:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful art class, its so good learning something new. I have just finished a course on how to crochet, so at the moment I am making a granny square blanket! I do enjoy getting creative with a new hobby and skill.
ReplyDeleteFive on Friday
Angela - Garden Tea Cakes and Me
The rooster painting is just lovely. A good subject with the different colours, shades to mix and paint. It's good to start a new hobby and do a workshop to encourage you to continue. When I'm able to get out more often I hope to go to an art therapy group. At the moment my daughter has shown me how to do a new pattern for the crochet squares I'm making. I'm pleased with the result so far. I hope you have a good weekend whatever you're doing.
ReplyDeleteLooks like great fun but hard work too to concentrate at the day class. I bet your grandchildren really enjoyed their painting session with you:)
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful paintings!!! You are a great artist. I love your cow - and don't tell the teacher, but I prefer your painting to hers!! Thank you for joining in, have a great weekend! xx
ReplyDeletePainting isn't easy for me even though I went to a couple paint nites. I'll stick with photography. I need to pull out my sewing skills and get my Christmas apron made. Then on to a small quilt for Melody's Christmas gift. I enjoyed this post of your paintings. Your rooster is lovely!! Glad your granddaughters had fun painting with you!! Havea good holiday weekend!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful artwork! My daughter is now an art student and it surprises me at how fantastic watercolours are to work with. Have a wonderful weekend xx
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are lovely I have experimented with water colours in the past. It is wonderful to do things that give you such joy. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteWonderful artwork! Watercolour painting can be so much fun. Love the rooster. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteLovely paintings, Gracie! My sister in law in your area is a watercolor painter too--I'll ask her if she knows your teacher.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy Labor Day weekend!
Bravo to you! I love your rooster. The great thing about making art is that it brings the maker joy. I have dabbled in watercolors, but tend to go back to Inktense pencils, which are easier. The "real" painters I know say that watercolor is more difficult than acrylic or oil because you can't cover up mistakes. I know this to be true!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Lady! And what fun!! I think this is a wonderful hobby, although I've always thought it looks so hard to get right. Thanks for being brave and inspirational! ;)
ReplyDeletexoxo
This reminds me of some of the art classes my grandma gave us! Buttercup looks very nice. I like art where I can actually tell what it is! You did a nice job on the rooster. My grandma and sisters, the real artists in our family can pretty much draw things exactly as they see them. Unfortunately, I have to be a little more "abstract" regardless of my theoretical artistic preference. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe cow is adorable . I was immediately drawn to it. I'm drawn to my new shawl and conquering short rows without fear
ReplyDeleteOh my! Buttercup sure is cute! You've done a great job with all your watercolors. I like to play around with them, but just rather messy fun than anything detailed or specific. Nice to see the grand-girlies having some creative fun, too.
ReplyDeleteThe cow is very beautiful ♥ hugs
ReplyDeletesummerdaisycottage.blogspot.com
How wonderful that you are working with watercolours and creating such great effects! Lovely to share the joy with your grandchildren too! I love to see my two older grandchildren painting at my house...they both love it and have very different styles! Loved seeing your rooster and look forward to seeing what you paint next Gracie!
ReplyDeleteHelen xox
What a great hobby you have! I like to see paintings. My mother 93 was learning water color painting for a long time, until 89 years old. I love the closeup cow; the soft light falling on the face and his eyes are very lovely.I am sure your granddaughters are a having good time together.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy weekend,Grace.
I really liked to read about your watercolour painting Gracie. I love watercolours! Unfortunately all my creative talents lie elsewhere and paintbrushes terrify me. I must get our watercolours box out for the little creatures to enjoy. Have a wonderful weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful paintings! Thank you so much for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this beautiful and inspiring post, Gracie! Your paintings are lovely! Painting with watercolours will be one of the first things I will try to practise, when I will have more time of my own.
ReplyDeleteThank you also for your interesting comment. Unfortunately the village.saugerties.ny.us site isn't working now but they have a Facebook page too. A Mum Festival would be something indescribably wonderful. :)
Have a lovely new week!
Love the paintings Gracie and your efforts are wonderful - only water colouring I've attempted are backgrounds for some of my cards and colouring some of my stamped images. I do enjoy that though - very restful. You are inspiring - Hugs Anne x
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