Together

Together, watercolor 30 x 23 cm

Blue Campanula

Campanula pot, watrecolor 40 x 30 cm

I have never been a "long-stem-roses" kind of girl. A small bunch of violets or bellflower  are enough to make me happy. (someone please tell my husband...)
When I started painting this one, I found myself getting lost among the little bells, feeling tempted to see and depict each one of them. Then I thought how I could simplify the mass of little flowers and tried painting it a second time. I took photos at each stage, so here is the step-by-step:

Photo of my Campanula model

1. After a rough drawing, painted the background,
leaving hard edges on the side from where the light comes

2. After drying completely with a blow-dryer, painted
the cast shadows. Carried these also into the shaded part
of the objects and softened the edges there

3. Painted the flowers as a purple cloud of varying colors,
focusing on values - lighter  on the left and much darker
on the right and bottom. Tried to hint the shapes of
individual flowers at the edges. Also painted the pot.

Campanula pot 2, watercolor 30 x 22 cm

4. The last stage was details - green stems and leaves,
the ribbon, some details of the pot wrapping

And then I had to try it in Acrylic:

Blue Campanula, acrylic on canvas board, 23 x 18 cm (7" x 9 ") (n/a)

An apple a day

Apples and pear, watercolor 30 x 23 cm

As I am vary new to acrylics, I need to learn about some basic techniques. So, I got a couple of new books -  one is a very detailed guide in acrylics. The other, Carol Marine's "Daily Painting", an inspiring book with tons of loosely painted pictures and full of good advice. It reminded me of the 10-minute exercise, which I had tried before with watercolor. So, I quickly fixed up a light box, took a stop-watch and there you go...

Painting acrylic studies of an apple

10 minute apples, acrylic study

10 minute pears, acrylic study

Coffee time

Coffee time, watercolor 23 x 30 cm

Coffee time, acrylic on canvas board 30 x 23 cm

Still lifes

Black pepper, acrylic on canvas board  30 x 22 cm

I have been having fun, painting almost every day since Christmas. I've managed to find at least an hour daily, and this gives me so much satisfaction.
I decided to challenge myself with acrylics and quite liked the results. The opaque paints seem to make things much easier. Although I didn't do any pencil drawing, like I did for the watercolors, the objects came out pretty good. Maybe, just knowing that I can correct mistakes, gives me confidence, and there are no mistakes. Also, painting with acrylics seems much more intuitive. I can paint the objects, as they appear in space, starting from the furthest. Watercolors require a much more abstract view of the scene, in terms of areas of values and colors, instead of objects and planes.

Black pepper, watercolor 30 x 22 cm

Still life with onion, acrylic on canvas board 30 x 22 cm

Vases, watercolor 30 x 22 cm

Yellow jug, acrylic on canvas 25 x 20 cm

At sunset

Happy New Year!

Let's hope that despite the odds the year will be calm and prosperous.

Arno at sunset, watercolor 40 x 30 cm

During these holidays I spent quite a lot of time with my brushes, trying to regain the happy feeling of creative work. After a long break painting didn't come natural. My Muse was sitting in the corner pouting. She complained that I've been ignoring her for too long. OK, OK, I'll give her time to come around, no promises though... 

Sunset over the city, watercolor 40 x 30 cm