laura's watercolors

my other blog!

laura33 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:13:32 +0000

I completely forgot I had started this blog! My Blogspot blog, also called Laura’s Watercolor’s, has my most recent posts.

I started with Blogger, but think I like the look of WordPress better … I may switch over, but, for now, please visit me at Blogger!

strawberries

laura33 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:46:00 +0000

(5×7)

(5×7)
These are true sketches: a trying out of how I would go about painting a strawberry, as a prelude to a more considered composition. I painted these quickly and as freely as I could, with no drawing; trying to leave the whites without fretting over them.

I painted these on the porch, which was shady, but I’d like to take them out into the sun and leave the lightstruck parts white, as I’ve seen done so beautifully in so many paintings of strawberries.

I’ll have to buy another pint though because I ate these.

accordian-fold sketchbook

laura33 — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:58:00 +0000

I took a one-day book arts workshop a few years back in which we made three books; it was one of the most satisfying things I have ever done: I walked out of there with my three books feeling like a very happy kindergartner. Naturally, I acquired everything needed to make books at home–awl, bone folder, decorative paper–but have only attempted it a couple of time, with not-as-satisfying results.
This accordian-fold book is the result of one of those attempts. I used bits cut from an unsuccessful painting, 3×3, for the covers, and a folded 18×3 piece of Fabriano paper for the inside.

These three Cape May scenes are 3×6, or two panels, each.

I like the idea of making my sketchbooks–it’s hard to find a watercolor sketchbook that has the paper you like; but it takes patience and planning, and measuring (!), all of which are skills I need to work on!

laura33 — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:07:00 +0000

(5×7)

Done early this morning with watercolor pencils from the stern of the boat. I smudged the pencil with dew from the gunnels, which worked out well, I thought, because it kept me from using too much water and losing all the pencil lines.

laura33 — Sat, 31 May 2008 23:03:00 +0000

(11×15)
The last of the orange tiger lilies.

(4×6)
Casting about yesterday for a subject, I drew my travel brushes.

laura33 — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:47:00 +0000

(5×8)

A what-was-at-hand study from last night. I wanted to paint the grapes without painting all the grapes, if you know what I mean! I painted this without any drawing, though, after the paper was dry, I did go in with a pencil and define a few individual grapes in the wettest part at right so I could put shadows on or behind them.
I’m happy with the grapes themselves, but wish I had arranged the cluster in a more a interesting way and given more thought to the shadows: such things should be considered even when doing a little practice piece; it should be part of the “practice.”

today’s back bays

laura33 — Sun, 25 May 2008 22:07:00 +0000

Two pages done while fishing today–no keepers; a couple of short flounders. The top drawing was done with a new set of watercolor pencils; I lug watercolor pencils everywhere, but never use them, so I’m trying them out. (BTW, I don’t like to carry the tin the pencils came in, so I bought a wonderful, inexpensive, unique handmade roll-up pencil holder on Etsy.com! Etsy’s a great site, and many of the seller’s, like the one I bought the pencil case from, will do custom work for you.)
It was a beautiful day; in one of the less crowded bays, I got some practice handling the boat–the little one, my favorite, Lulu!–and docked her myself today for the first time.

yesterday’s lilies

laura33 — Sun, 25 May 2008 21:56:00 +0000

Yesterday afternoon I had some time to work on these lilies–good thing too, as today many of them are wilted.

Almost done. I’m consciously trying to keep the three lilies in front brighter and more defined, letting those in back fade away a bit, though they’re every bit as orange in reality.

summer shakedown

laura33 — Sat, 24 May 2008 16:20:00 +0000

Memorial Day: shakedown weekend of the summer. Everyone’s been fed and taken off for the beach or to fish. (One of Peter’s men, Stevie, caught a 50-pound drumfish last night. I hear they’re delicious, and hope to find out later today! I’ll post a picture if they took one!)
I find I have too many things to paint and not enough time. The frustration of having too many desirable subjects! Never thought that’d happen: when I first began to paint and draw I was always at a loss for subjects! Now everything’s a subject. So it’s a good frustration (maybe the only one).

(10×15)
Bristol board cover for my drawing day (June 7) folio. A few of these cherries may need a bit of sprucing up later …

(11×15)
Drawing of a pot of orange tiger lilies. These aren’t the “natural” ones that grow by the side of the road here–blooming in July with the Queen Anne’s lace and blue flax; a beautiful roadside bouquet; I did get a few bulbs of those though, and perhaps I’ll get lucky in July. Orange tiger lilies are my absolute favorite and made up my wedding bouquet!

BTW: Thanks to all my faithful blogger friends who have commented on my last few posts; I really appreciate your comments and apologize for not taking the time to respond individually … yet. I’ll post post-Memorial Day!

bayfront

laura33 — Wed, 21 May 2008 00:23:00 +0000

(3.5×5 each)
For future painting …

… and the bristol board cover for the small folio I’m preparing for Drawing Day.
I bought some bristol board awhile back and had put it in my pile for the Salvation Army, never having tried it (it’s got a very slick surface; kind of like Yupo, with which so many are currently enamoured). It’s a light card-stock weight and I thought a piece might serve as a folio for my Drawing Day sketches.
Maybe this’ll be the back cover, and I’ll do one with many more more cherries for the front …