Magnolia: A Master Study

Magnolia is done under the direction of watercolor artist, Jacqueline Gnott through her membership based learning forum, For the Love of Watercolor. The video for this particular painting demonstrates on how to blend smoothly and how to achieve a rich, dark background and how to paint white flowers. A great learning experience.

8 ³⁄₈ by 9 ¹⁄_{8 inches on 300 lbs. Kilimanjaro watercolor paper}
Reference photo by Jacqueline Gnott

The Rooftop Gargoyle

I painted  this using the rivulet technique that I mentioned in the earlier post. I did not do too much lifting out here since the sculpture was backlit. You can learn more about Susan Avis Murphy’s rivulet technique here.

11 by 14 inches on 300 lbs. Kilimanjaro watercolor paper
Reference photo by Suzanne Wallick 

Welcome Spring

Completed under the direction of the watercolor artist, Jacqueline Gnott.

In watercolors on a 9 by 12 inches 300-lbs. Kilimanjaro watercolor paper.

The Garden Flutist

I did this painting under the direction of the watercolor artist, Susan Avis Murphy, on her rivulet technique as explained in her blog. She has explained this technique in great details and has a couple of youtube videos demonstrating the technique here. There is a lot of scrubbing involved to lift the paint to get the lighter shade. I find that Loew-Cornell’s La Corneille flat brushes are the best in scrubbing out the paint. Their bristles are gentle enough that they don’t damage the paper surface. The glazes must be applied gently so as not to disturb the bottom paint layers. I have cross-posted this painting in my blogger account.

11 by 14 inches on 140-lbs cold-pressed Kilimanjaro watercolor paper

Reference photo:  Steve Lyddon from PMP

Bouquet of Cosmos

I did this painting from an old painting challenge No.57 from A Nos Pinceaux .

11 by 14 inches 140 -lbs. cold pressed Waterford watercolor paper

Flutterby : Monarch Butterfly

This painting is done under the direction of the watercolor artist, Jacqueline Gnott. I have signed up for her learning forum so I will be able to learn better under a master watercolor artist. My schedules clash with local class times and online forum is the next best alternative where you can learn the techniques through videos. I recommend this membership based learning forum for anyone interested in learning more about watercolor painting. In this particular video, I learned how to paint in rich, black background using black pigment and how to paint the colored bokeh in the background.

8 by 11 inches on 300 lbs watercolor paper
Reference Photo : Jacqueline Gnott

 

Flutterby : Great Spangled Fritillary

Finally, I am back to watercolor painting! This blog desperately needs some colors after several drawings. Almost an year ago, I drew the outlines for this painting, applied masking fluid and kept it away. I knew it would be a bad idea to leave on the masking fluid but I lost the painting mojo so much that I couldn’t pick up a brush and finish it. I have been watching a lot of videos and browsing online on watercolor paintings but there weren’t motivating enough to pick up the painting brushes. Earlier this week, I just happened to see this unfinished painting and picked it up to finish the painting. I did the background painting first, knowing well enough that I might have to throw away the painting that removing the masking fluid could ruin the paper surface. After finishing the background, I had a hard time removing the masking but the paper was sturdy enough to withstand the abuse as I scrubbed away every last bit of the masking. I used Kilimanjaro watercolor paper to do this painting.

11by 14 inches on 300 lbs watercolor paper
Reference Photo : Rodney Campbell

 

Pear with Blue Bottle

I did this as a part of painting challenge No.52 from A nos pinceaux . I did some minor changes in the finished painting  like eliminating the glass in the reference photo and the background. I think this is the first time I am painting a pear and l loved how it came out as. I must also try painting green pears in the future, considering the fact that pear is a favorite fruit subject for artists to paint in still life. It must be because of the unique shape you can get with each pear.

Literary Pursuit

It has been a while since I did figure painting and I am back painting with this one.

Reference photo : Ross Lynem from paintmyphoto.ning.com
12 by 4.5 inches on Arches 140 lb.

Mallard In Flight

I have been wanting to paint a bird again. The talented photographers from paintmyphoto post stunning pictures of birds to tempt artists like us to use them as reference images. I have utmost respect for them in sharing their images, especially when there is no way I can take such action shots. I am also indebted to them for giving me the inspiration to paint birds when I never even considered the possibility of doing it. I thought I would quietly be lulled into complacency with painting mostly floral.

9 by 13 inches on 140 lb. Kilimanjaro

Reference photo by Rodney Campbell from paintmyphoto.ning.com