PASSION ROSES
Watercolor on gessoed paper - 8x10
Showing posts with label watercolor on gesso. Show all posts
Showing posts with label watercolor on gesso. Show all posts
PASSION ROSES - Creative Challenge - Gessoed Surface
VICTORIAN & Ghost Stories
VICTORIAN
Watercolor on gesso - 11x14
Don't you just love old, victorian style houses? My aunt and uncle lived in one in a small town in Iowa and I have wonderful memories of visiting my cousins and getting to stay in their beautiful, historic house. Of course, there was also a legend of a ghost that inhabited the house and my uncle was great at telling the story right before we all went to bed. To this day my cousins swear that at one time or another they all saw the ghost of Clementine walking the halls at night!
GARDEN BOUQUET & Painterly Floral
GARDEN BOUQUET
Watercolor on Gesso - 11x14
The Creative Challenge this week was to use a painterly style in your artwork."Painterly" is defined as having visible "brush strokes", the result of applying paint in a less than completely controlled manner, generally without closely following carefully drawn lines. It is a little more challenging to paint this way with watercolor but I have found that if I coat the paper with white gesso first to create a slick surface it allows the brushwork to show up more and give a painterly effect.
In this close up of Garden Bouquet you can see the brushwork and the drips and runs that are created with the watercolor during the painting process.
DAFFODILS AT DAYBREAK - Watercolor on Gesso
DAFFODILS at DAYBREAK
Watercolor on gesso - 11x14
I painted Daffodils at Daybreak on 140 lb watercolor paper that had been coated with white acrylic gesso. The gesso creates a smooth surface that allows the watercolor paint to sit on top for a free, painterly effect.
IRIS PINK & Gesso
IRIS PINK
Watercolor on gessoed paper - 8x10
I painted IRIS PINK on gesso coated 140 lb watercolor paper and while the white acrylic was still wet I used the handle of the brush to scratch in some free forms lines. I was curious to see how the watercolor paint would settle into those areas and hopefully add a little bit of surprise to the final composition. I was more than happy with the final result!
SUNFLOWER GOLD on Gessoed Paper
SUNFLOWER GOLD
Watercolor - 8x10
I painted this happy sunflower on 140 lb watercolor paper that I coated with white gesso. The acrylic paint creates a smooth surface which allows the watercolors to stay bright and true and promotes a more painterly effect.
Never Throw Away Old Paintings!
WATERFALL BLUES
Watercolor on Gesso - 14x19
I never throw out any of my watercolor paintings. Even if I feel like they are beyond help. I have learned that there are many things I can do to continue the creative process.
I can turn them over and start another painting on the back.
I can paint over it with white acrylic gesso to create a new and fun watercolor surface.
I can collage painted tissue paper and rice paper on top to create a whole new look.
I can tear it up to create new collage papers for another painting.
I can come back into the watercolor with opaque acrylic paints.
Or, I can just let them sit in a pile for a while and comeback to them later with a fresh eye and new insight into what needs to be done to complete the composition.
If you are short on studio storage space there is always room under a bed!
PASSION ROSES & Gesso
PASSION ROSES
Watercolor on Gesso - 8x10
I always tell my students that they should never throw away any of their old paintings, even if they are unhappy with them. Make a stack, hide them under the bed but do not get rid of them. They can always be cut up to use on a collage, rice paper can be glued on top or they can be painted over with white acrylic gesso to create a new painting surface.
Traditional watercolor paper allows the wet paint to soak in to the paper but a gessoed surface allows the paint to sit on top to create a loose, impressionistic style. It is a fun way to stretch your creative wings and you have nothing to lose!
SAILBOAT FANTASY
SAILBOAT FANTASY
Watercolor on gesso - 14x18
I have always thought it would be fun to learn to sail but have never really had a chance to do it. I love anything to do with water and can imagine that it would be a blast to skim across the water with the sails flapping in the wind!
GARDEN BOUQUET & Watercolor on Gesso
GARDEN BOUQUET
Watercolor on gesso - 11x15
Garden Bouquet was painted on 140 lb watercolor paper that was first coated with white acrylic gesso. The slick surface allows the watercolor paint to sit on the surface of the paper which keeps the colors bright and allows for a free and painterly effect.
Are you a Messy Painter?
SOUTHERN JEWELS
Watercolor on gesso - 15x20
Sometimes when I see neat and tidy studios I feel a little inadequate. Or a palette that is perfectly clean. Don't get me wrong, I try to keep my art area organized and things picked up and out of the way but inevitably it gets messy again.
When I am in the middle of a painting project I tend to get caught up in the artistic process and the enjoyment of creating and keeping things clean is the last thing on my mind. So I have decided to give myself permission to be messy. To not sweat the small stuff and live a little more in the moment. After all, there is always time to clean things up when I am finished having fun!
ETERNAL SPRING
ETERNAL SPRING
Watercolor on gesso - 11x15
'The spring came suddenly, bursting
upon the world as a child bursts in
to a room, with a laugh and a shout
and hands full of flowers.'
Love, Hope & Dreams
VICTORIAN HOUSE
Watercolor on gesso - 11x15
'Home is the starting place of
love, hope & dreams.'
Studio Tips & POPPY DELIGHT
POPPY DELIGHT
Watercolor on gesso - 8x10
I think we all struggle with getting more time in the studio to paint and create. It is easy to get caught up in day to day tasks around the house and think we don't have enough time to be creative. Here a few tips that help me:
I keep my painting supplies out on my art table so that they are easily accessible and ready to go. Paint, paper, brushes and water stay out so that even if I only have ten minutes to paint I don't waste time setting things up or putting everything away.
I keep all of my painting ideas and inspiration organized in folders by subject.
I have several paintings in various stages of completion so that while I am waiting for paint to dry on one piece I can always work on another one.
I set small goals for myself each day so that when I enter the studio I know exactly what I need to start working on and am not overwhelmed by too many choices.
Fall Colors and Hurricanes!
AUTUMN SPARKLE
Watercolor on gesso paper - 11x15
It definitely feels like fall has come early this year. Cooler temperatures and falling leaves. My thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by the hurricanes in Texas and Florida. Our daughter is living in Jacksonville so last night was a little tense for all of us but luckily she is fine. She had to spend the night at the hospital with the other residents but is back in her apartment tonight and blessedly has power and water. Hopefully we can all get back to more normal weather soon. Have a great day!
Art With Heart Monday - April Newsletter & SOUTHERN JEWELS
SOUTHERN JEWELS
Watercolor on gesso - 15x22
Regular 140 lb watercolor paper will absorb the paint, letting the colors flow and blend for a beautiful soft look. Sometimes, I like to shake things up a bit and first coat the paper with white acrylic gesso. This makes a slick surface that keeps the watercolor from soaking in and allows the paint to create fun textures for a more bold, painterly style.
I just sent out my April Art With Heart Newsletter. I invite you to view it here.
COLORADO BLUES and Snow
COLORADO BLUES
Watercolor on gesso - 11x15
I always LOVE painting with cool shades of blue and green and the slick surface of the gessoed watercolor paper creates a fun, painterly look. It is hard to blend the paint in a traditional way but very easy to lift out the white aspen trees and to have hi lights reflecting in the water. Any snow where you live?
ASPEN GOLD and Is Art A Competition?
ASPEN GOLD
Watercolor on gesso - 11x15
SOLD
I have to admit that I don't enter art competitions or juried shows. Years ago when I first started painting I did a few but quickly realized that they were not my cup of tea. I know a lot of artist enjoy them but I find that I tend to pull away and retreat to my studio to paint.
Art is a personal journey for me and I enjoy spending time thinking about creativity, setting my own art goals, experimenting with different techniques, exploring new subject matter and encouraging myself to get better. It is more important to me to push through my artistic failures and celebrate my own creative victories than to win awards or ribbons. At the end of the day it is our own personal, creative journey and we get to decide how we want to travel that path. Is art a competition for you?
PASSION ROSES and Impressionistic Style
PASSION ROSES
Watercolor on gesso - 8x10
I used juicy colors for these pink roses and painted on a slick surface with an impressionistic style. It is always fun to change things up - a different creative approach using different materials!
Waterfalls, Blue and an Etsy Treasury
WATERFALL BLUES
Watercolor in gesso - 14x19
Waterfall Blues was painted on watercolor paper coated with white acrylic gesso to allow for a more painterly style. You can see this watercolor and other fun items in the Easy Treasury Spring Gift here
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