Posted in colorwork, drawing, painting

100 Day Project: Days 1-5

Last Wednesday I wrote about my 100-day project, during which I will collaborate with Bill in making artwork or fiber objects inspired by his photographs. These three are the subjects of my first week.

Back in 2017 at the Kansas City Zoo, Bill has a close encounter with this lorikeet. In his image you see plumage in colors that, impossibly, co-exist on one bird. I accepted as my challenge to swatch out this feathery palette in watercolor paint.

Day One: Samples

Day Two: I turned it into a color wheel.

In 2010 we visited The Louvre. While I wandered around, Bill found this sculptural fragment in the Antiquities gallery.

My initial idea was to do a simple drawing using Micron pen. To get a better look at the details, I edited the photo, brightening up the shadows, then printing it in monochrome.

Day Three: Drawing

It actually took me two days to finish the drawing because I chose to stipple.

The next photograph was taken while vacationing in the Caribbean, but I am unsure if we were in Barbados or Belize. I really love the wave action and the colors.

My brain must have mashed up the last two photographs because I ended up superimposing the face onto the water.

1st Week Final Note: Searching my yarn closet, I found scraps to match up with the Lorikeet plumage. Today I used them to knit this swatch in fingering yarn.

What do you think of the combination? Would you wear it on a hat, scarf or vest?

See you next week.

Posted in painting

Taking a Break from Quilting

The last two weeks have seen me working intensly on two quilts. One is finished (yay!) So today I am taking a break from quilting, if not from thinking about quilts.

It’s time to get more watercolor postcards painted. I have some new watercolor paper made especially for postcards that I am excited to try out.

A sample of this 100% cotton paper by Winsor and Newton was included with an order from Dick Blick. Since I liked the sample, I decided to buy this packet of 15 sheets. It seemed affordable and is the perfect size for postcards.

In perusing my library of reference photos, I came across an image of a quilt that really appealed to me. I described it as a log cabin flag quilt. I saved it with the idea of making a similar quilt.

But now I think it’s the perfect subject for a geometric watercolor painting.

I started by dividing my paper vertically into three columns. Determining that the angle of the flags is sixty degrees, I drew several intersecting lines. The painting process was slow and relaxed. When I was satisfied with the color, I grabbed a black watercolor pencil to reinforce the lines and darken a few of the blocks. Done.

What do you think? It’s not a slavish copy, more of an interpretation. Where the quilt has patterned fabric, I chose to allow colors to mingle.

SIDE BY SIDE.

I used all my reds, which included Pyrol scarlet, alizarin crimson, quinacridone red and magenta. Blues are cobalt and prussian. Rounding out the paints were quinacridone gold and Winsor green blue shade.

Posted in embellishing, painting, quilting

Friday Finish: Creation Wall Quilt

Today I’m showing the finished wall hanging that I made based on a 13th century illuminated manuscript. The project got its start when I wanted to try out my new watercolor pencils on fabric. This link shows the original artwork that inspired me.

After getting the blocks sewn together, I quilted the sections in a dark blue thread. I was proud that my free-motion quilting skills were proficient enough to make swirls, wiggles, spirals, shapes and lettering.

Most of the fancy stitches were done on the pale grey fabric. In each of the four cardinal compass points, I stitched images that were in the style of those found on the medieval manuscripts. That style is typified by drawings of flowers, animals and figures worked into lots of filigree lines. I love the flat imagery and the primary colors used by the artists of the time. They were simple monks living a simple life.

The giant focal point, God’s eye, is sewn with spirals: symbol of the cycle of Life.

This quilt done, I can now focus my time on the Stay-at-Home round robin quilt. Right now I’m working diligently on a large number of flying geese blocks. If I stick to it, the border will be finished in time to post to the Linky party before it closes.

Posted in painting

Wednesday Watercolor – a new-to-me Technique

Last Wednesday, at the art association’s open studio, Cheryl introduced the group to a technique of painting into wet paper using a credit card instead of a brush. She referenced the work of Lena Gemzoe.

Very intriguing, but clearly, it takes a lot of practice to get results this good.

For the class, I decided to use granulating colors that would settle out into the texture of the paper. Working from my imagination I attempted a mountain view, with a stream in the foreground.

To finish it off, I used my brush to make a tree, island and grasses.

Cobalt blue, Payne’s gray, raw sienna, burnt sienna, yellow ochre and a little white gouache on Arches 140 lb. cold press paper.

Posted in drawing, painting

Sketching Sunday: Inflight Study

This week I practiced drawing and painting sandhill cranes in flight

This study will be part of a larger landscape that I am planning. I used cerulean and phthalo blues, raw sienna, burnt sienna, yellow ochre and a bit of Payne’s gray on Arches cold press paper. My reference photo appeared on the MPR website and was taken by Ben Hovland.

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/11/13/record-flock-of-sandhill-cranes-at-sherburne-refuge