Tag: Micron pen

Posted in painting

Improvisation inspired by Blue Brightly

Posted on by Laura Kate

This week’s Artist Way focus is on recovering a sense of abundance. Today when I viewed Lynn Wohlers wonderful photographs on the subject of Deciduosity, I was struck by the abundance of Autumn colors she had captured during her recent visit to the east coast. I just had to get out my watercolor paints to respond.

Her images of Shu Swamp inspired me to try an abstract painting of the scene. Grabbing some student grade paper, I started by making doodles with Micron pens in the general shapes observed. The water went in with blues and pinks first, then, without thinking too hard about it, I just began laying in colors, lighter to darker: green gold, yellow ochre, quinacridone gold, and burnt umber.

The whole time I was moving like I was in a trance – I think it is because I was working more abstractly. It was a soothing and satisfying experience, and a welcome break from the pressure of finishing the dog portraits.

I highly recommend that you visit Lynn Wohler’s WordPress Blog.

Prepare to be blown away.

Posted in painting

Watercolor Wednesday in October

Posted on by Laura Kate

“She offered me a hummingbird” again

Finally finished this last 6 x 6 for our local art association fundraiser. This one was important for me to get right because it faithfully reproduces the layout, colors and feel of the actual event.

When the visitor offered me the bird, it was in her hand extended forward to me. The bird was in this posture – wings stretched back into a V and head slightly raised.

I used two reference photos. The hummingbird came from Unsplash, it was taken by B Hong. I rotated his image until it had the posture I remembered in the live bird.

The hand model was me again. I chose a bright sunny day and held a button in my palm to try to recreate the shadows.

It was enough for me to get the idea. When I needed help, I took the painting to Open Studio today for advice on attaining better shadows. Cheryl Bryan was there. She advised me that I should not try to match the photograph. Softening the shadows and allowing a little space between the palm and the bird made for a better painting. Then I kept darkening and tweaking everything until a good range of values was present. I finished the details with white gouache and a few colors of Micron pens.

For those interested, my pigments are raw sienna, transparent orange, Winsor green blue shade, Winsor green yellow shade, carbazole violet, Paynes gray and white gouache.