Sunshine and Flowers

Sunshine and Flowers, watercolor, 54 x 42 cm

... for my Mom

Peonies

Red Peonies, watercolor on Langton Prestige paper, 54 x 42 cm

Pink Peonies, watercolor on Langton Prestige paper, 54 x 42 cm

Red Peonies is a larger version of a painting I did last year. The pink simply continued the theme...

It has been quite stressful at work lately and I find hardly any energy to paint when I come home. Or to sit at the computer too. I want to apologize to all friends at blog-space whose posts I have missed or will miss to visit. I will catch up at one point, but it may be a while. Meanwhile, happy painting!

Tulip Explosion

Tulip explosion, watercolor on Langton Prestige paper, 56 x 33 cm

Tulips, first wash, free hand sketching

When I started this composition a few days ago, I was just trying to simplify painting a tulip with a single color. So I put all these tulips on the paper and left it there. Today, before continuing, I took a picture, as I liked that first wash and wasn't sure where to go from there. Added some directional background and more definition in the central flowers, which gave the painting a focus.I like it, but I still find that initial wash quite attractive.

Spring is coming

Crocuses, watercolor sketch, 25 x 22 cm

Tulips, watercolor sketch, 25 x 22 cm

Colors of the sea

Sea in the sun, watercolor 38 x 28 cm

Sea under the clouds, watercolor 38 x 28 cm

Prussian blue
Yellow ocher
Alizarine crimson
Burnt umber
Mix ingredients with water, spread on paper, add salt to taste and leave flat to dry :)

Maya faces 4

Los Voladores 3, watercolor 25 x 30 cm

Maya faces 3

Los Voladores 2, watercolor 25 x 30 cm

In the previous post I said that the face was overworked. But while working on this one, I realized how much I enjoyed examining all facial features and trying to depict them. So, while part of me would like to finish a painting in a few expressive brush-strokes, another part, the one that takes control, finds pleasure in the details. One day these two will probably come to an agreement. But for now, it is what it is. I'm happy with the result.

Maya faces 2

Los Voladores 1, watercolor 25 x 30 cm

I couldn't sleep last night, maybe due to the time change. So, instead of tossing and turning, I went to my "studio" and painted for an hour, until I felt sleepy. When I got back from work today, I was eager to continue. Here is the result. The face is a bit overworked, but I think it isn't bad.
The photo is of one of the "flying men" (Los Voladoers), whom we watched performing an old Mexican ritual. It starts by dancing at the top of a very high post, after which four of the men launch down on ropes, spinning until they reach the ground. I was surprised to see that the performers were not young at all. And I was happy to be able to take a few good shots of their faces, which seemed so interesting to me.

Maya faces

Mayan woman 1, watercolor on Langton paper, 21 x 23 cm

Mayan women, watercolor on Langton paper, 30 x 25 cm

Mayan woman 2, watercolor, 13 x 16 cm

I've been so busy lately, having no time for either painting or blogging. So, as soon as I found a few free hours this weekend, I grabbed the brushes and did these studies. They are based on photos I took on my vacation in Mexico.
In the mean time so much has happened in blog-space... I am eager now to catch up.

Pueblo del Rio at night

Pueblo del Rio at night, watercolor on Langton Prestige paper, 38 x 28 cm