Pastels and Watercolors (and a few other art media)

[SquarePeg]

Broke out the paints today with a Paul Clark watercolor tutorial. It’s a hot mess right now. My paints and paper did not react the same as Mr Clark's. Definitely in the ugly duckling phase right now. Going to try to rescue it when it’s fully dried

Embarassing WIP photo.

 

[SquarePeg]

It looks nothing like the reference painting in the tutorial but the end result is not as bad as the WIP suggested. I haven’t really painted anything in more than a year so I’m not that discouraged by it. Mainly I messed up the sketch so the perspective is off and as usual my house is crooked and I can’t seem to get water to look like water. I’d give this a C-

Critique and suggestions are always helpful and welcomed.

 

[vintagesnaps]

You might do just as well getting out and taking photos yourself to paint. Notice the source of light and where and which direction shadows are being cast. And take some water photos sometime and notice the reflections. What's being reflected in the water has to be there somewhere...

His paintings show good proportion and perspective but some of the angles of the shadows don't make sense. In one I can't figure out what's reflected in the water; I don't see anything that looks like the reflection along the shore at the edge of the water.

I can see what you like about his style but you don't want to later on have to unlearn stuff. You might see more taking photos yourself.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I like Arches too. I don't do a lot of watercolor but got a small set of Winsor Newton Cotman not long ago; not that many colors but enough. And yes, good art supplies get pricey! I've bought online from Jerry's Artarama. Local art stores have dwindled down in recent years.

I'd taken classes from an instructor at the Royal School of Needlework on drawing and how to do embroidery designs from your drawings. The instructor also does her own drawing online and just started up again last week but I missed that one. I always loved to draw so I've enjoyed her sessions.

You know Charlie, as soon as you buy new brushes the old ones will turn up!! lol They must be packed somewhere...

 

[SquarePeg]

@vintagesnaps Thanks Sharon for your input. I’m not worried about having to unlearn anything. I’d be thrilled to make only the very minor mistakes you noticed in the tutorial instructor’s paintings.

 

[terri]

@vintagesnaps Thanks Sharon for your input. I’m not worried about having to unlearn anything. I’d be thrilled to make only the very minor mistakes you noticed in the tutorial instructor’s paintings.

I think you rescued this pretty well. The first layer of paint looked like it got away from you a little bit. But once it was dry, the next layer of the trees is sharp and nicely done. That warm palette looks great against the purply background.

What colors did you use on the trees? Is that a yellow ochre? Love it!

Do you ever use a ruler when you sketch buildings? I feel like I have a right-handed bias, and my vertical lines angle off, so I've just taken to using a ruler.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I think you did a good job getting detail out of the first version in that second version. I'm impressed with what you were able to do with it And if you're seeing what you could do differently you'll know what to try another time.

I can see what you like about the style, and apparently he teaches at a community college in the UK so I don't know what his background is. Here taking something at that level could be quite different than grad level art courses which I've done (quite some time ago!).

Based on taking a lot of art over the years some of his work didn't make sense to me (like what's reflected in the water; I don't see the origin of the reflections in some). Which bugs me! lol In my experience a good instructor is going to send you back to work on it (been there done that!) if something in your work don't make sense or needs improvement.

Of course it can be a matter of a variety of tutorials, videos, and workshops online etc. and learning something from various ones.

 

[SquarePeg]

I think you rescued this pretty well. The first layer of paint looked like it got away from you a little bit. But once it was dry, the next layer of the trees is sharp and nicely done. That warm palette looks great against the purply background.

What colors did you use on the trees? Is that a yellow ochre? Love it!

Do you ever use a ruler when you sketch buildings? I feel like I have a right-handed bias, and my vertical lines angle off, so I've just taken to using a ruler.

Yes good eye! Yellow Ochre with about 10% Raw Umber to darken it a tiny bit. I like that this guy uses the same 3-6 colors in most of his tutorials. It makes it easy to do another one without changing everything out and they all mix well together. Cadmium Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Payne’s Grey, Yellow Ochre and Burnt Sienna (which I’m out of so I used the Raw Umber).

Using a ruler to sketch the buildings is a great idea. Whenever I free hand it leans left. There was a sketch download available but I’m trying to sketch my own so I can get better at doing it by eye.

I think you did a good job getting detail out of the first version in that second version. I'm impressed with what you were able to do with it And if you're seeing what you could do differently you'll know what to try another time.

I can see what you like about the style, and apparently he teaches at a community college in the UK so I don't know what his background is. Here taking something at that level could be quite different than grad level art courses which I've done (quite some time ago!).

Based on taking a lot of art over the years some of his work didn't make sense to me (like what's reflected in the water; I don't see the origin of the reflections in some). Which bugs me! lol In my experience a good instructor is going to send you back to work on it (been there done that!) if something in your work don't make sense or needs improvement.

Of course it can be a matter of a variety of tutorials, videos, and workshops online etc. and learning something from various ones.

I could definitely do with some formal classes since I’ve never had any. Maybe at the local CC here someday!

 

[snowbear]

Arches - yes! On my wish list, but I'll continue with the cheap paper until I get better.

I like it. It's learning and practice, right?

I started one. I think I should have "cropped" the bloom a bit closer, and I didn't leave some white paper for the stamen; masking fluid is ordered and should be here in a day or two.. I'll try lifting some paint. I've also ordered some of the gummed brown paper tape and I have a piece of hardboard / masonite in the basement that I'll clean up and use as a drawing board. For now, it's blue tape and a piece of tempered glass. I might add a pan or two, but I'm going to make the "full palette" tubes. I prefer pans and pencils for traveling.

I'm looking through my photos for a landscape to do (after his one).

 

[vintagesnaps]

Nice Charlie, you got some beautiful shades in that, and nice proportion in the various parts of the flower (if that makes sense).

Stock in Arches paper is going to start going up if this board has anything to do with it!

 

[snowbear]

Thank you, Sharon. I was able to lift quite a bit of color off for the stamen.

 

[SquarePeg]

Arches - yes! On my wish list, but I'll continue with the cheap paper until I get better.

I like it. It's learning and practice, right?

I started one. I think I should have "cropped" the bloom a bit closer, and I didn't leave some white paper for the stamen; masking fluid is ordered and should be here in a day or two.. I'll try lifting some paint. I've also ordered some of the gummed brown paper tape and I have a piece of hardboard / masonite in the basement that I'll clean up and use as a drawing board. For now, it's blue tape and a piece of tempered glass. I might add a pan or two, but I'm going to make the "full palette" tubes. I prefer pans and pencils for traveling.

I'm looking through my photos for a landscape to do (after his one).

View attachment 271073

It’s very pretty. You can always crop in with a smaller mat.

 

[SquarePeg]

My second PC snow scene tutorial. This one was much easier although I think I need to start using bigger paper so I can fit in the whole scene. Once I get back into practice I’ll do so.

Cobalt Blue, Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre and Payne’s Grey.

 

[terri]

This is just beautiful. Love the texture here! Great example of Limited palette.

 

[SquarePeg]

This is just beautiful. Love the texture here! Great example of Limited palette.

Thanks Terri! I’m tempted to do something similar with a soft pink sunrise light and some pine trees. Maybe swap out the Yellow Ochre for the Crimson but keep to the same basic colors. Need to search my files for a reference photo. I think there’s something from a walk Harlie and I took last year after the snow.