"Best Rosebud Yet" (Watercolor Sketch)

[This little watercolor sketch is available for sale at RaineyDeweyArt]

I hooked up with my painting group tonight.  What was a mob of about about a dozen or so painters has dwindled down to three or four.  But no matter … when one gets the opportunity to paint with other artists there is a certain energy in the room and a sharing of technique and critique (like it or not) that abounds there.

With my renewed enthusiasm to paint I was happy to get some advice about painting flowers from one of the experts there.  Everyone has their own approach and I’m open to hearing it all, trying it all and then I am sure at some point my own approach and style will emerge.

Next week’s class will be the last till next fall but I’m hoping to get my studio ready in the next month or so, which will provide a great space for a handful of artists to paint together from time-to-time.  That project will be revealed here very soon and I’ll definitely provide details for those who might be interested in a paint-fest.

Until then I’m happy to be using so many glorious hues.  Using the colors on my palette first intense and then soft, glazing one color over the previous and  making new discoveries.  Truth is right now I’m just having fun!

Another quick sketch...

Frustration abounds as I start to become familiar with painting flowers, all kinds of flowers not just the “easy” flowers like tulips and morning glories.  Both Tulips and Morning Glories are fairly uncomplicated with just a few pedals or just one continuous “ruffle.” But I don’t want to be so limited!  I love roses, peonies, mums, daisies and all the rest.

... and another...

Nature clothes flowers in such exciting and jubilant color and I’ve been shut out.  I’ve been missing the absolute joy of using a wide variety of color and this self-imposed exclusion is over as I begin my adventure into the floral realms.  So far the results have been “iffy” at best but I refuse to give up.

It’s funny because I remember a time back at the beginning when I tried to draw a variety of subjects but then fear stepped in.  I suppose fear is a part of the adventure and I know the key is to quiet those voices of self-doubt and try.  Trying over and over again will ultimately bring us to a place where we can finally say… “Not bad!” or “I like it!”

Having grown weary of those Gerber Daisies I thought ... Roses...

[Click here to purchase these sketches and other original artwork -  RaineyDeweyArt]

Eventually I will find my own approach to painting flowers!

"Anne's Flowers" Watercolor Sketch

Sometimes I just don’t know what I’m doing.  That is indeed the case over the last few days as I attempt to paint these darned flowers.  Don’t get me wrong I love flowers in all their vibrant glory but I’ve never been a great painter of flowers.  So most of the time I avoid them altogether painting mostly subjects I feel safe rendering.  Like landscapes… lots and lots of landscapes.  Enough already I say to myself.

The thing is since I had surgery on my hand and was prohibited from painting for a couple of weeks inside me began this stirring.  A stirring to branch out, go out on a limb, do something new and with all that adventurous talk comes a risk that maybe I won’t succeed.  That fearful self-talk is what has kept me from painting a great variety of subjects over the years.  I would never just force myself to go for it because that fear of failure was powerful enough to keep me away.

Enough I say!  My creative side has been kept inside a very limited world for far too long.  No more.  The time is now to crack out the passionate reds, soft pinks, deep purples and sunny yellows!  I’m ready for a world of flowers and I’m willing to accept the fact that it won’t be easy finding my way to paint them but find my way I must.

I don’t know at this point what my style will ultimate be when it comes to rendering flowers so this will be a trip outside my comfort zone.  As I take this first step I know for certain that  I will be wasting lots of paper!  But there really is no other way to learn something new.  Practice, practice and more practice is the only way to bring me to a more comfortable relationship flowers and their riot of color, form and intricate design.

So here we go… outside my comfort zone just as the spring flowers are beginning to poke their heads out of the dirt.  Bring ‘em on!

Left handed watercolor sketch

Typing permission granted!

With my stitches out and permission granted to type, write, paint and draw I’m determined not to squander my time doing meaningless junk.  Instead I intend to pick up my brushes and pencils to PAINT and DRAW and WRITE.

There is always a chance that my newly discovered determination will begin to wane after a fashion ( as sometimes happens)  so I need to come up with a plan on how to deal with that kind of situation.  Hmmm… let me think.

Perhaps the best way is to develop a habit of painting or drawing everyday.  Even if for a few minutes I need to incorporate my creative time into my day so that when I’m not exercising my creative muscles I’ll be cognizant that something significant is missing and immediately rush to correction mode.

That kind of behavior would require a commitment and self-discipline.  Hmmm… am I up to it?!  I suppose that question can best be answered with another question.  How much did you miss NOT being able to paint when you couldn’t!?

My answer to that question is I missed it beyond all measure.  You see there is a certain peace that envelopes me when I’m involved in a creative project.  I’m in another world were no problems or stress reside.  I’m in communion with God using the gifts He bestowed on me.  So why on earth would I not pursue that experience everyday!?

Good question!

Now that I’m finally released from the bondage of lack into the liberty of creative expression I’ll not squandering this liberty.  Instead I will do my utmost to make use and create and when I fall, which I almost certainly will, I will begin again and remember the days when my art was held in bondage and the yearning for it could not be satisfied.

"Into the Hills" Watercolor Sketch

I admit I’m growing tired of all these landscapes and nearly started to paint something new today.  I’m glad I didn’t do that because the goal is to finish and then start something new.   I do admit that I’ve shredded one painting so far that was beyond any hope of salvaging.  But I do need to caution myself against destroying in lieu of finishing.  Remember, finishing was my goal not destruction.

With this watercolor all I did was apply a warm wash over the entire painting and crop.  I can tell you that I am learning a lot about using bold color, which is something I typically don’t do.  When you’ve got nothing to lose plunging in with great abandon can be quite freeing.  Even if I ultimately toss some of these sketches into the trash later the exercise of finishing and experimenting along the way has proven to be quite an education.

So I will continue on but I think my impatience is telling me to take a break from watercolor and turn to my pencils for a while.

"The Brothers' Homestead" Watercolor

I’m proclaiming this little watercolor sketch finished even though I know I pushed through the final bit on the right and know I could have done better.  Next time… there’s always a next time to do better.

I’ve always liked these old buildings.  I drive by them frequently on my way to work and know that two elderly brothers once lived here.  I used to see them from time-to-time wearing straw hats working around the place.  The farm now stands empty with the buildings falling into disrepair.  I can only guess that the brothers have either died or  are unable to live here alone any longer.  Places like this are the last of a dying breed with many crumbing into decay.

I would imagine that this place was once a large, productive operation with lots of dairy cows.  I don’t know for sure if that was the case but with a large, beautiful barn like this one I can’t see how it could have been any other way.  I’m sure the original farm must have covered many acres but now it stands on a corner with a highway ramp on one side and highways running on the front and back sides.  Oh what a shame.

Sadly, I expect one day soon someone will purchase this parcel put up a fast food joint or some other useless establishment.  After that all that will remain is my memory of the brothers and the farm that once was on the corner.

[Click here - RaineyDeweyArt -  to purchase this little watercolor or to invest in some other little gem]

Cropping Option 1

Cropping Option 2

Cropping Option 3

This new modern technology – that is scanning technology – has given me an interesting new perspective when it comes to which cropping option will leave me with the strongest composition in the landscape you see here.

I’d originally thought I would eliminate most of the dairy barn (see Option 3) cozying up the piece with foreground bushes and grasses and then I scanned the image.  That’s when I realized that maybe I was cropping too much.  I decided to then take advantage of scanning a couple of different options.  You can achieve the same thing using matting corners but I’m finding it even more revealing seeing it all on the computer screen.

As I looked at each option carefully I have decided that Option 1 leaves nothing to the viewers imagination, revealing the entire landscape.  This cropping option lacks a meandering road or distant mountains, something that would create depth and inspire the viewer to want to explore.  Not good.

I think I like Option 2 in the middle best.  I’ve cropped a little of dairy barn and will finish by taking advantage of the shadows in the snow and laying in lots more brush and grasses.  That is the plan anyway.  We’ll see how it goes.

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Step 3 - Acrylics used sparingly and diluted.

Last night I took out my acrylic paints and just jumped into “it” trying to salvage this painting.  I worked tentatively at first diluting the paint with water in much the same way I use my regular watercolors.  I suspect I could have been a bit more bold but I’m just not very comfortable using acrylics.

I’ve tried using acrylics in the past and have found them frustrating and inflexible.  With a quick drying time I always have gotten discouraged with the end product.  Since I like to push the paint around and fuss a little – no, I like to fuss a lot – acrylics just have never been fun for me.  I suspect if I was less attached to producing a “good one” I would have had more fun in the past.  Add to that the fact that I’ve seen other artists produce great results with this nemesis of mine and, well I’ve just got to give them another go.

In the past, I’ve tried using different “floating mediums” without much success.  Just last month I purchased a drying retardant, which I haven’t used yet and did not use on this painting.  I’ll keep you posted when I do use it and will share my opinion on whether it helps acrylic paints to become more user-friendly, or should I say Rainey-friendly.

I’m determined to have fun with acrylics and because this painting is coming along so nicely I did begin to have fun!  Who knew!   There’s still quite a bit  to do in the foreground and on the hedgerow trees but I like what’s happening.  The reason I am using the acrylic paint so diluted is because I want to retain the transparency that is watercolors most endearing attribute and I fear that by laying in the acrylics too heavily that transparency will be compromised. That is the plan anyway.

I will be working on this painting over the weekend and will post the final result right here on this post on Monday (sooner if the battery arrives for my MiFi and I get reconnected to the Internet at home).

"The Setting Sun" Watercolor & Acrylic

 [Click here RaineyDeweyArt where this watercolor will soon be posted for sale!]

Here's where we start...

As I pulled this next painting from my pile of unfinished work it dawned on me that some painters might consider this piece finished. It’s true that we each have our own vision for our lives and for the artwork we hope to produce.

Inside my head I see this painting as a little overworked and definitely unfinished.  I do see some good things in it also.  I feel the sky “sings” with color and value and I like it so that portion of this painting will remain untouched.

Second step is to crop.

But I think the division of space, i.e., foreground, middle ground and background are not interestingly divided.  That’s where the cropping will bring a stronger composition forward. Yes, it feels better to me already.

My next step will be to use acrylic paints to lay in some “springtime” foliage in the foreground and in the hedgerow on the left.  I don’t typically use acrylics but have decided to implement my “No Rules” approach here.  With such dark watercolor paint embedded in the paper it will be impossible to “lift off” enough pigment to achieve that very light color green that I want.

We’ll see how it goes.  I’ll be working on this painting with acrylics tonight and am looking forward to it.  Stay tuned to see what we get.