Paints and pastels. Shapes and shadows.

I am starting work on a couple more pages and am trying out various layouts.  Many years ago my sister gave me some soft pastels so I have painted and pastelled (verb: to pastel, is there such a thing??) a picture of a ginger jar.  They aren't properly placed just yet....simply side by side for comparison. 

Still trying to find a method and a medium that I truly enjoy.  I am leaning more and more towards a pen outline and then paint.  I like the way it is loose and not, all at the same time.  And the pastels are lovely, but quite messy.  But hey, lots more playing to do!! And therein lies the fun! 
So I am also playing with various layouts and took a number of photos, because the old brain keeps misplacing the images I try and hold on to.  So much easier to print out a few ideas and use the brain for the important things....like where I put my coffee!

More on all of this later.  I  have to finish my coffee. I'm pretty sure it's around  here somewhere!

X marks the cup.

I messed about with some of my watercolours today and painted this little wobbly picture of my coffee cup.  It was fun.  I'm using Cerulean blue, Aureolin yellow and Genuine Rose Madder.  I like the pastel shades one can get with watercolours.  I think next time I would leave out the shadow under the cup and the handle.

More watercolour play and a project

This is a small exercise I have done (and will do more) just to mess about with some colours and mark making.  I am trying to learn about the various properties of watercolours and also to preview some colours for my next project, which may or may not come to fruition (depending on my 'perfectionist' gene!!).  But in the meantime, I am learning lots.  It is such a beautiful medium and I am in total awe of people who are able to make it all look so easy!!! 

Hmmmm.  I clearly haven't mastered the art of 'cropping'.  I don't know how to take an image, that scans at 8 1/2 x 11, and have it appear without its surrounding borders.  (Oh well, enjoy all the white space!!!)  Anyway, this is what I am going to try and paint.  It's one of my photos from yesterday morning.  We'll see.  But it's good to have something in mind.....white space can be a problem when that's all that's in front of one!  (It's why I am totally enjoying the mark making exercise.)  I'll play with some more colours in the next while.  It's all about the neutrals! 

Just one sketch. Time with my demons!! And a trip!

This is one of my pictures from Module One of the Sketchbook class with the Kemshall's.  Couldn't resist just one!!  I really like dots (the pointillism thing) and so had a lot of fun with this one.  It's on tracing paper.

 But,... I have been very frustrated lately with the art-making process and the self-doubt demons!  The second module of the sketchbook class is all about watercolour, the lovely wet in wet, free flowing and gorgeous watercolour look.  Agh!!! Never done that.  Really want to try but everytime I set brush and water to paper I cramp up.  And it all feels so overwhelming.  And the work everyone else is doing......so lovely.  So I have been doing nothing....well, that's a great way to learn, don't you think!!!  So I am going to give up on the idea of a masterpiece (my demons again!).....the old 'it's never good enough unless'..... and just try TRY to play.  We'll see what happens.  And of course because I was stalling so terribly with the sketchbook class, and feeling guilty, I haven't been doing anything for the Jane Davies class either.  Agh again!!  But this morning I am painting again, and am going to tackle the watercolour thing....yes, yes, I am!

Oh, but the great news! We are planning a trip to France in the spring, so I have spent tons of time on the computer booking 'gites' in france, such fun, and have organized what should be a most wonderful trip mid april to mid june.  Sigh.  My guy, my sketchbook, my camera and advil!!!  should be perfect!!  Can't wait!