I was pretty darn happy with my first attempt at painting pond water on HP watercolor paper. I've never really done a proper landscape or been completely happy with my ability to paint water. I liked the glow achieved here with an underpainting of Gamboge Hue with subsequent washes of Cerulean blue and Indigo so I'm filing this one away in my success file. I'm working on a new fantasy piece and I realize I will need to work on these skills to realize my vision. Unfortunately, I really blew the sky so I'm only posting the pond part. I've got my pride at stake here folks! The 'reflection' is of an overly large Moon and I can see that I shouldn't have created so much ripple effect as the pond is basically still.
I plan to continue with this flawed painting, experimenting and working out the logistics. When I'm finally satisfied with my abilities and have a successful piece completed, I'll post it along with all my 'experiments' and point out where I went wrong along the way. As Stacy Rowen reminded me...it's only paper. All a part of the learning process..............
10 comments:
Billie, we all need to remember to experiment once and a while and let go of the outcome. Your water looks fabulous and that reflection is bright. Looking forward to seeing more of your experiments!
Great water Billie.
You have got my curiosity up now. We just might get you painting outdoors this spring after all.
Stacy is so right - I need to learn that lesson too.
WONDERFUL water reflections - can't wait to see all your experiments come together.
The water looks good to me Billie. you've got the reflections and that lovely fading of colours from the centre to darks at the side. It works.
For every failure, there is a lesson learned. Its very useful for things not to turn out as we want. That way we can move forward.
Yes I love the colors you chose for the water. The graduations between each glow and the texture look very cool. I wonder if washes overtop of some of the rippples would soften the ones you are unhappy with and add another level of depth?
I also just messed up a painting only to discover that I like my mistake once I worked on it a bit and now I think the painting is better than it would have been without the mistake as I would not have pushed the colors so far.
I am looking forward to seeing this one with all of your 'mistakes' when it is completed.
Thanks, Stacy.:) the reflection isn't quite that bright. i scanned this image and the scanner blew the color of the reflection out. it's been impossible to get a good photo using indoor lighting. the temps have been bitter cold lately so i'm NOT going outside with my camera right now.
Robin, I just may venture out this summer to paint. maybe in my gardens?
Anita, after i realized that i'd had some bleed through between my pond & the sky i decided to just play. i dropped on alcohol and certain other colors into a wet wash...all the things i've wanted to try. i got a lot of UFO's for my trouble but it was fun.lol
i agree, Jeanette. there was a time when this would've hit the circular file immediately but i thought...what the heck. why not try a few things just to see what happens...or doesn't? since my last post i've added pastel, CP's and acrylics with some interesting results. definitely a learning experience.
Tracey, I can try the washes over the ripples but i've got a feeling that won't help. at least not enough. i know this one won't be going to market so i'm having fun just messing around.
i saw the painting you refer to. i was worried about that background for a bit but you pulled it out of a power dive with skill. it's gorgeous! watercolor sure is full of happy(and some no so happy) accidents and surprises, isn't it? every painting is an adventure.
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