Final

Here's the final painting for the class.  I was a little behind on this painting so I hurried with it.  Hurrying helped me to loosen up a bit, but it also helped that I did a lot of thinking with it before hand.  I am pleased with the results.  This is a study of a picture from "Field and Stream" Oct 2007.  The colors are a bit different but the positioning is the same.  I used Cadmium Red, Cobalt Blue, Azo Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, and Yellow Ochre.

A Rose, some Cats, Snow, and a Dog

Here is my tweaked version. Basically all I did was add a few shapes so that one shape wouldn't stand out so much.

 I should have used the flash on my camera so this wouldn't look so yellow, but I didn't, so we'll have to live with it.  I darkened the foreground and added detail to the lions and added my signature.  I like it better with the tweakage.

 This is a project we did with compliments and for some reason when I pick out specific colors I have a hard time making the picture look real. I'll have to work on that.  But it looks okay.  The colors were Yellow-orange, Blue-violet, Red-orange, and Blue-green.

This painting was done with the old master's triad (Burnt Sienna, Paynes Grey, Yellow Ochre).  I enjoyed doing it.

This is my texture assignment.  I did a study of a platypus and used a mingled wash and saran wrap for the water and splattering for the main main body.  I'm not sure I like the grass and the bubbles are a little out of place but I like it.

 

This is a direct glaze of a rose using the delicate triad.  I have since tweaked part of the background and will post it when I get it back.  I think it would have been better if I had left the leaves out of the background, I didn't have a lot of patience with them.

Since I was thinking about going into illustration I thought I might as well try something involving illustration.  I used some reference but for the most part this came out of my head.  The assignment was for atmospheric glazing.  I have also since tweaked this and will have it posted when I get it back.

This is an emulation piece.  It was painted by Alison Nicholls and is titled "Duma".  I liked it though I had a little difficulty when I started but for the most part it went pretty well.
 

And this piece was inspired by a little fluffy kitten we have.  The assignment was to leave whites.  I used misket while I was doing the washes then took it off as I was finishing.  There isn't as much white as I had planned but it just kept getting smaller and smaller.  It worked out well though and I'm still happy with it.

Sea Arch and Things

In the spirit of Halloween the top two pictures are from my sketch book.  I did the first one in pencil and had to modify the boundaries a little.  Picture number two is a rough value study made with some left over paint.  Mid picture we got a critique and I toned down the darks a little.  The last is the finished product.  My colors were Ultramarine Blue (I seem to be favoring this one), Azo Yellow, and Quinacradone Red.

This chart is for stayers and spreaders.  It shows all the colors on my pallet and how they react after they have been gone over with water. 

 And lastly the pineapples and limes once again.  This is them after I had a chance to tweak them.  I'm much happier with the limes and I put a little more definition in some places.

Blam! Pictures!

Pineapples and limes from start to finish... ish.  Despite the frame on the last photo I am not quite finished with this project.  I had a hard time with a few things on this, the limes are horrid and for some reason I didn't render it as well as I know I can.  I think it was the under drawing, I didn't like it and should have redone it.  At least I've learned from it and that's what matters.  Anyway, expect another picture of what it looks like when I'm done with tweeking.

 This is a picture of several different textures (and my wonderful sister peeking out from the back).  I won't label them here because there are about 22 different textures and that would be a lot of typing.  But if you are curious about any of them let me know and I'll tell you.

These are my colors.  This chart is pure color and shows a few traits from each pigment i.e. sedimentary (over the ink) or staining.  I should scrub out a little line on each of them to demonstrate the stainage but for the most part this is what I have in the way of color.  (The black tape around the edge is pretty awesome)

This project was actually done before the pineapples.  Again I am having problems with the edges and I should have done wet on wet to avoid all those streaks.  I like the design though, maybe if I have a day were I get some ambition I'll redo it.

Bamboo?

Despite putting it off for days it's here.  The first project.  It looks a little dark because of my amateur photographic skills and I took it at night in a shady part of my house (sort of).  Anyway, on to the technical stuff (don't worry it's fascinating... and short).  The first panel contains a wet-on-wet flat wash of Cadmium red with graded washes for some of the foliage and chicken scratches to make it look right (and hide a nasty tangent).  I did a wet-on-wet graded wash in the next panel with a mingled wash of the negative space over top.  Last I did a direct mingled wash of both colors and flat washes for the foliage over top along with more chicken scratches to make it look good.  Despite some rough edges I'm happy with it, I was a little worried about painting over my nice graded wash but it doesn't hurt to look at so I'll take it as a success.

Newness

As a requirement I have created this blog for a watercolor class.  I don't mean to shoot myself in the foot for saying we are required to do this. It it will be an interesting experience for me and hopefully for whoever happens to glance this way.  So far we have had a lot of fun (the results of which are comming soon).  Enjoy while you are here.  ~Michelle Brighton