On doing one's own work

I am trying to do some watercolour work every day.  And it isn't as if I don't have tons of inspiration. And yet here I am copying someone else's work.  This is only for my own interest, and because I LOVE the version done by the artist.  It is done by Adrie Hoekstra and is a picture she did based on a photo taken in Gent.  I was so smitten with her version that I had to give it a try.  It was fun to try and replicate colours which I suppose is a sort of learning in itself.  I am trying to figure out why some pieces appeal to me and others do not.  And I am wondering what it will tell me about my own work. This is my version of the piece done by Hoekstra.

I just want to reiterate that this is not my work....well,I did do this little painting but it is a total copy of the piece done by Hoekstra.  It really is a difficult question, this 'copying' business.  Is it all right to do this kind of thing if it's just for my own learning?? I know there are classes that teach one how to draw and paint 'like the masters', so I'm hoping it's ok.

In the meantime, I have purchased more pears and plan to do some more of my own work.  There, that will feel better.

Pretty dramatic lighting, hey???  Yum!!!  I have messed around a bit in photoshop elements to get this effect.

Both of these shots were taken out the east facing window that I showed you the other day in the sunrise shot.  The wonderful stone in the background is part of the roof structure of the building where we are staying and the pears are sitting on a glass shelf that has lighting built/hidden in it.  Very effective, although here the lights are turned off and the sun is lighting up the fruit.  Possibilities, don't you think???

I'll get busy, and I'll be back...

Here's a link to the original watercolour of the original photo, well, you'll see what I mean:

http://www.edohannema.nl/wordpress/three-painters-doing-gent/