A: That's up to you but how about using tracing paper as an aid.
Here, I am going to suggest ways in which tracing paper can be used as an aid - and none of them involve tracing from a photograph to reproduce it as a watercolour painting.
A: That's up to you but how about using tracing paper as an aid.Whether using tracing paper is cheating or not has been a hotly debated argument amongst artist since...well, since it was invented probably.
Here, I am going to suggest ways in which tracing paper can be used as an aid - and none of them involve tracing from a photograph to reproduce it as a watercolour painting.
0 Comments
A: Old, "failed" or experimental paintings can be turned into greeting cardsI bought some aperture cards yesterday without much idea how I would use them. Today however, I've been going through old paintings, failed paintings and this years experimental paintings and discovered endless card making possibilities. See below! Pictures taken with a camera in poor light - sorry, I'm no photographer.
My Latest Watercolour PaintingThe original hedgehog painting has now sold. It is available as a Limited Edition print by clicking the link. I was brought up on a diet of Beatrix Potter books, perhaps that's where my love of hedgehogs comes from.
I haven't seen one shuffling about in the garden for years, despite the piles of wood and other debris lying around. So, I did a bit of research (Googled it). Numbers are in decline, which is a shame, and it's not yet understood why. Other examples of my wildlife paintings can be seen in the Animals and Birds gallery and also in the gallery of New Paintings. Interviews with other artistsLouise Morton set herself the goal of recording the family farm in watercolour. I caught up with her over lunch and asked her to let us know how she's getting on. Here's our interview, including a few of the many paintings Louise has produced.
My Latest Watercolour PaintingOther portrait paintings in watercolour can be found in the gallery Other Painting Subjects.
Stairway to HeavenFor further examples of my paintings go to galleries:- New Paintings, Other Painting Subjects and Landscapes. I wasn't sure which gallery to put this in so I've put it in three!
The inspiration for this painting came from a painting holiday I, and four other artists, went on to Limoux, in the Aude department of France, in 2013. During our stay we visited the Abbaye de Saint Hilaire. My Latest Watercolour PaintingOther examples of my flowers and fruit paintings can be seen in the gallery.
"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." ~ Picasso.I run Watercolour Workshops or Taster Days from my studio, providing tuition for up to six people. Whether you are a complete beginner, or a more experienced artist, I can tailor the day to suit your needs ensuring you get the most from your time. These small original paintings will be available to buy shortly, if you are interested please contact me. More examples of my flowers and fruit paintings can be seen in the gallery.
"Thank you so much for a really lovely day. It was perfect. Great company, great food and even Robert thought my painting looked good which, of course, is down to you. Thanks again and we will be back (if you'll have us!)". MH If you are interested in joining a watercolour workshop or weekly class below is a list of the basic equipment needed. I hope it is helpful. Exhibition runs throughout September 2015Original paintings, Limited Edition Prints and Greeting cards will be on display in The Blue Room at The Bell Inn, 10 St James's Street, Castle Hedingham, Essex, CO9 3EJ throughout September.
My new paintings have been reproduced as Limited Edition Prints. In many cases the Edition has been Limited, by me, to 50 or 100 prints adding to their uniqueness and value. Each one is signed and numbered by me. They cost £35, framed, and will be available from The Bell Inn during September. Alternatively, if you would prefer to frame them yourself the cost of a Limited Edition Print is £25 mounted, ready for framing. They are available to buy via my website (by clicking the image in any of the Galleries) or contact me directly if you wish to collect them in person. Prints can be ordered in many standard sizes. Here on my website I have listed print sizes as fitting a 10" x 12" standard frame. If you would prefer a smaller, or larger, size please contact me. I am often asked which brand of watercolour paints to buy. I never normally deviate from my usual brand, Winsor and Newton, however, artist Jen Oldknow has done a very through product review for Jackson's Watercolour paints which you may find interesting.
I have done a product review for Maimeri Watercolour Paints which you may also find useful. My palette (pictured above) contains six colours of paint. To find out what they are and why I chose them read my article entitled "Because Life's Complicated Enough". Do you stick to one brand of paint or do you have a mixture of brands in your palette of colours? Eleanor Great Hickbush, Great HennyYears ago I used to paint "plein-air" all the time. These days I rarely venture away from the comfort of my studio, which is a shame and something I've been working on rectifying of late.
Product ReviewThe Society for All Artists asked me if I'd be willing to do a product review for MaimeriBlu watercolours.
I was sent a set of five, 15ml tubes to test. The colours sent were:- Cadmium Yellow Deep, a rich opaque colour with an orange bias. Cadmium Red Light, again opaque with an orange bias. Cobalt Blue Light, a semi opaque colour, and two earth colours; Burnt Sienna and Burnt Umber both semi opaque. (Right to left in the example below.) My Latest Watercolour Painting(s)I thought I'd reached the end of my recent bird series/obsession until I remembered my desire to paint another robin. This will not be the last of them, I have in mind to paint a robin pulling a worm from the ground.
Other examples of my bird paintings can be seen in the Animals and Birds gallery and also in the gallery of New Paintings. "Limitations breed creativity" Last November I wrote an article about Moving Forward, since every artist at some point wonders how they can move forward with their painting. I wrote the following article to illustrate how "The Plan" I wrote about in that article, might work. Workshops or classes are needed to learn techniques and try out new ideas but I think real learning comes from challenging oneself.
We only solve problems when we are faced with them and with this in mind I enjoy setting new challenges for myself. I sometimes set myself what others consider to be unnecessary restrictions but I think of restrictions as positive. They force me to think and work in new ways. When I'm free to do what I want I have a tendency, as we all do, to stay firmly in the safety of my established comfort zone. Once I construct challenges for myself I find that the limitations, rather than limiting what I can do, actually increase my skill, productivity, knowledge and understanding. Why wouldn't you want to do that too? Le quatorze juilletThe photograph below shows the first stage of my watercolour painting Fireworks at Carcassonne. By clicking the "read more" tab you can see the painting process from the initial sketch, made on location, to the final stages of the painting. More of my landscape paintings can be seen in the gallery, Landscape Paintings and in the gallery of New Paintings.
SunburstOther examples of my bird paintings can be seen in the Animals and Birds gallery and also in the gallery of New Paintings.
DiscoveredMore of my landscape paintings can be seen in the gallery, Landscape Paintings and in the gallery of New Paintings.
At The Pheasant in GestingthorpeJames and Diana Donoghue, owners of the The Pheasant in Gestingthorpe, hosted a watercolour workshop following the BBC's recent series,"The Big Painting Challenge". As one of their resident artists I was invited to tutor it.
SpringMore criminal birds!
Following my 'trip down memory lane' with my painting of a Blue Tit on a milk bottle I have been looking at, in order to paint, more of our native British birds. Other examples of my paintings are available in the gallery Animals and Birds and also in the gallery of New Paintings. Journey to Saint Hillaire, Aude, FranceMore of my landscape paintings can be seen in the gallery, Landscape Paintings and in the gallery of New Paintings.
This piece is from a painting holiday I, and four other artists, went on to Limoux, in the Aude department of France, in 2013. One damp, gloomy day we took a trip to Saint Hilaire, in the Cathar region, to visit the Abbey there. The inspiration for this painting came from that journey - which was spectacular. I was relieved not to be driving (thank you, Dora). The steep hills were covered with vineyards and surrounded by pine trees with the occasional breathtaking view toward the Pyrenees. In fact I was drawn to the Pyrenees from the moment I spotted its peeks through the clouds as the plane came in to land: Like a child seeing the sea for the first time I was continually on the lookout for them during our stay. Subject: The Stour Valley in watercolourI run twice yearly workshops in Henny for those wanting to learn how to paint in watercolour, improve their painting skills, or just have some ‘me time’ doing something they enjoy with like-minded people.
My aim is to teach different techniques at each workshop. I hope the various techniques covered will enable students to have a set of skills that are transferable to any subject matter of their choice. I chose the Stour Valley as the subject matter for this workshop. I chose it because it's local to us and lends itself well to different interpretations, styles and colours. I try to choose a subject that is not too demanding to draw, leaving students free to concentrate on painting. The students went home with one large and one small painting. The techniques in this workshop included:-
Other workshops at Henny include Painting Autumn Wreaths "Thanks very much Eleanor, excellent day – thanks too for your patience and understanding not to mention really helpful thought and preparation, can’t wait for the next time!" Peter |
Eleanor Mann
Putting a "Spotlight on Watercolour"I am a watercolour artist and tutor. Welcome to my painting blog.
I'll share my new paintings and news with you here - before they're published on the main site. Information about watercolour painting techniques and step-by-step demonstrations and a host of other things are available by subscribing to my online "art group", For more information about this please click here. If you would like to subscribe to receive notification that I've posted something that may interest you (don't worry, you won't be inundated) there is a form below. Thanks for visiting. Please read the Privacy Policy
Categories
All
Archives
February 2024
|