I like to do my own thing with watercolors, but every so often it's good to step out of the box and try some other artists style.  My recent read are two books.  One is by Jeanne Corbonette's  "The You of watercolor"  and the other by Jan Fabian Wallake's "Watercolor Pour it On".  Both artists use intense colors of washes which are poured on with analogous colors blending along naturally by tilting your board or directing a wash to be used for technique and for later use for details.. The Too and the Flow"  uses layerd glazes to create depth and transparancy.  The one of a kind washes make interesting unplanned placements of the subject.  Mistakes are made but sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

  Charcoal is a forgiving medium which is used for tonal work. Easy to rub out and work back into to alter tonal areas. Charcoal tends to rub off on everything and needs to be fixed to the paper with a spray fixative such as airborne glue. Avoid getting it near your watercolor work. 

This sketch was drawn by Janice Anne one evening with nothing to do.  Though spontaneous whim sickle visions she has drawn simply what came to her.   Dreaming up what you want is often a difficult decision.  In this case she just sat down and started drawing.  Before you begin sketching, get some knowledge of different types of pencils there are.  Click Here for a list of Materials needed.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy holidays to all our friends and family. Jan and Kevin spent the evening touring the neighborhood with our friend Jim looking at Christmas lights and hunting the animated deer.  Keeping in with tradition we made arrows out of sticks using ribbon and white paint.  We took a ride on my tailgate up and down every street in our subdivision. Moma rode shot gun while Andy and Jim jumped off at each stop to place one of our holiday arrows into each yard decoration that moved.   Each was carefully placed to get the biggest laugh we could. 

Check out more of our HOLIDAY PHOTOS
 

You don't have to go far to find a great subject to paint.  This is my cat sitting beside the fence in my back yard.  Get motivated to paint something is easy.  Finding the subject can be hard, but don't think to much about it.  Your in it for the fun first of all.  Just look outside or find something in your home to paint.

Check out the rest of my portfolio

The Log Cabin is a watercolor reproduction from one of our photo albums.  When the subject you are painting is one of a house or object, using a picture is an easy way to help you fill in the missing spots.  When you sketch a still life you have nothing to go with if you forgot the details.  

Pick a subject you wish to paint and start by taking a photograph first.  Then sit for a while and sketch the subject out as you normally would.  Return to your studio and begin your painting.  Use the photograph to help you size up objects in your painting and to remind yourself how the light or the motion of the scene was at that moment.

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Are you looking for something to paint and nowhere to go?  We just got back from Weedon Island in St. Petersburg, Florida!  A local state park filled with rich cultural history and ancient artifacts which can light fire to your imagination.  An Island preserve surrounded by clean clear, alligator free mangroves.  We rented a kayak from Sweetwater Kayaks and set out on a 4 mile journey through open water to an area where the mangrove channels are much like a walk through the forest.  A canopy covers much of the mangrove channel providing shade and protection for a multitude of birds and wildlife. 

A trip filled with incredible sites that would inspire any artist.  State and local county parks are filled with these wonderous events and spectacular scenery.  Get out there and feel the wind in your face, touch the branches of a tree, then find you own way to express wind in your painting and visual illusions to create the texture of a tree branch. 

Landscapes are among one the most common watercolor subjects.  They do not have to be detailed to perfection.  In fact the most effective paintings are completed within 30 minutes.  Go outside and pick a scene that inspires you.  Sketch out your work then return to your studio to paint.  Limit yourself to just a few colors and two brushes.  Remember not to be so critical of your work.  Go with what you feel and you can't go wrong.

Welcome to our blog!  Interesting subjects and stories from mywatercolor.com.  Inspire your inner watercolor artist by reading or posting comments here!  Express yourself in new ways.  Free free to speak up and tell your watercolor story or tell us about your art. 

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