Copy of Botticelli painting, in watercolor

Image size approx. 8 1/2 x 11 click for larger view

I worked on this watercolor that I had started a few days ago, and finished it up today. (scroll down to see the earlier post) I think it might have come out better if I had used a smoother surface to paint on, either a hot press w/c paper, or a smooth illustration board. The texture of this cold press paper just didn't seem to be quite the right thing. And it seems like the more paint layers I put in, the muddier the painting looked. I can't seem to keep w/c looking fresh. I really envy watercolor artists, I don't know how they do it!! One of the reasons I like to try and copy a painting that I like, is that I get to really see all the details in every inch of it. I find so many little things I missed seeing before, no matter how many times I've looked at it.

We had quite a winter storm yesterday. There was snow and blustery wind all day long, and it continued into the evening. The roads were deep with snow, and driving was a scary adventure, and the weather man says we're going to get more snow tomorrow...

Just in case I don't get a chance to post anything new before the holidays, I want to wish every one a safe and happy Christmas! Happy Holidays :)

Tagged...

I was tagged the other day, by artist Mona Diane Conner, who's blog is called The Ruby Slippers. She paints miniatures in egg tempera on vellum! Something I find very different and unusual, and she does it very well. Give her blog a visit when you get the chance at miniaturepaintingdaily.blogspot.com
I've noticed this game of blog tag going around, and I think it's a fun idea. A way to share some different things about yourself and to share the blogs you find interesting.
The "rules" are to link the artist who tagged you in your post, and to list 7 little known, or unusual things about yourself, and list 7 other artist's blogs you'd like to tag, and leave them a comment on their blog to let them know you've tagged them. And if you are tagged, it's totally up to you whether or not you want to participate. So, I'll give it a try....

1. One of my weakest points is writing, it takes me forever to get my thoughts together to write an email, or even a comment on a blog. I'm sure this post will take hours.

2. When I was 19, my first real job was as a fashion illustrator for a Department store. I was one of 5 or 6 artists in the advertising dept. who drew the illustrations for the store ads in the newspaper. It was fun, but at times I had to draw things other than fashion, like mattresses or luggage, and that was a bit boring.

3. I used to be a tattoo artist. It wasn't my idea, just sort of happened while in my 20's. I stayed with it for years though, and the funny thing is I am very squeamish around needles and blood, but I was very comfortable tattooing people. weird.

4. I have one small tattoo on my ankle that I put there myself just to see what it felt like.

5. I didn't learn to drive until I was in my early 30's.

6.I've been married for 25 years this year.

7. I work part time in a dental lab helping with the processes of making porcelain crowns, veneers and things ... I'm no technician, just a good helper :)

And, as for the list of other bloggers to tag... I've seen so many have been tagged already, I think I will skip this part. Instead, you might like to check out some of the blogs I have listed on my favorite blogs list. Thanks for taking the time to look at my blog.

Botticelli

Copy of Botticelli's " The Annunciation" Oil on 12"x16" Canvas

As long as I can remember, I have always loved renaissance painters, and Botticelli is one of my favorites. Years ago, I saw this painting in a book, and was so inspired and fascinated by it, I just had to paint it myself, and I really didn't have much experience with oil painting, but, I did it anyway, and it was a pleasant experience. I learned alot about the paint, and mediums, brushes, etc, and I look at this painting today, and wonder how I was able to do it. ??? God knows, but I thought I would practice with my watercolors this time, and use another painting of Botticelli's to go by. And since it's the Christmas season, this subject appeals to me all the more.

Copy of Botticelli's " Madonna with Child and an Angel"

Here is my start, using watercolors on winsor & newton w/c paper. The smaller image is a print out from the computer that I'm using for my reference.

Drawings

Scattered images on 11x14 Drawing paper
I spent some time drawing this afternoon. I really love to draw, and I haven't been taking the time to do it lately, and I miss it. So, I stood in the kitchen and drew some of the things I have sitting on the counter. Some fruit, and some nuts: almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts, and I think there's one hazel nut in there. I always notice how nice things look on the counter, in the light of the window that is over the sink. I had an impulse to color in the apple, so I used some watercolor, but on the drawing paper, it didn't work out so well. It gave me a desire to spend some time using my watercolors again though. Maybe I'll do that. I haven't had time lately to sit down and oil paint. Maybe it's time for a change.
My favorite way to draw is to start with a lighter pencil, like an H, or HB. Then, once I've got most of the picture drawn, I use a kleenex to smear over the picture, spreading the graphite around, and making it cloudy looking. Then I use a nice sharp darker pencil to continue, and a kneaded eraser to make highlights.

Making progress...

I've been playing around with this painting for about 3 days. It has taken me that long, to figure out what was bothering me about it. I finally darkened the background, and all of a sudden it looked better. The color I used there, was a mix of prussian blue, yellow, and transparent earth red, with white to lighten it. I really liked the greenish reddish brown it made. I learned alot while experimenting with this painting. I learned to remember to hint at a shape rather than try and draw it perfectly, like the top of the cup. The perfect detail of that elipse shape isn't seen anyway. It's just that my brain knows it's there, and wants to draw it that way. I catch myself doing that so often! I also learned that scraping paint off rather than trying to fix things is best, so I should just do it and get it over with! And, that my ability to discern values needs alot of work, it's like pulling teeth to get myself to darken things as dark as they should be. The only way to learn these things and to get better is to practice painting. So, that's what I'll be doing every chance I get....

Pear with Cup (in progress)

I'm taking my time with this one. I started with a gessobord that I coated with a thin mix of stand oil, venice turpentine, and refined turpentine. I don't know why, I just thought I'd try something different to seal the gessoed surface. It stayed tacky for a few days, never really feeling dry, but I started to paint on it anyway, and I found that it was really nice to paint on. It grabbed the paint in a way that made it easier to control. So, I'm gradually filling this one in, taking my time, and really trying to figure out the colors, the values, the brightness, the temperature.... I feel like I need to work on that.

Forelle Pears and Cranberries 5x7 o/b

I finally finished this painting. I learned a lot during the 3 or 4 times I went back to it. It's strange though, how I don't seem to retain anything I think I learn. Every time I paint, it's a new adventure in figuring things out. It turned out much different than when I started, mostly because I moved the whole set up into a different room, near a window, which changed the whole lighting situation on it. Then I decided to paint out the cloth, since I messed it up, and couldn't get it right again. The pears also ended up in slightly different positions than before, changing the patterns of color.