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Artists in the Outback:  Outback watercolorists  |
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blueberries in alaska
outstepping
109 Posts
Jo
hillsides of the Chugach
AK
USA
109 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 18 2008 : 8:52:23 PM
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I'm going to take a watercolor class again...... I found huge numbers of beautiful stunning mushrooms last August and have had this huge urge to paint away and recreate them.
Any of you out there watercolor geniuses? Do you have any books to recommend for naturalist painting. A friend of mine has wonderful little journals full of birch trees she's painted and amazing scribbles of trail beauties....... jo
there's no place like home....
http://web.mac.com/thomja
http://homepage.mac.com/thomja/PhotoAlbum22.html |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Mar 20 2008 : 08:36:58 AM
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Watercolor is one of the toughest mediums for me - and I love the look of it. I think you really need to let go & allow the paint to express itself fluidly rather than trying to control it too much. A good analogy for life, don't you think?
Would love it if you'd share some of your work from the class sometime, Jo!
Jen
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member #9
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2008 : 06:12:40 AM
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My mom does amazing water colors. Mine always looks like a child was playing with paint. Ugh. I think I am too uptight for water colors although I think I will take some Extension Office art classes this fall!
Elizaray |
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Kuiu Kate
outbound
16 Posts
Bull Frog's Garden
Headwater's Camp
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2008 : 2:59:16 PM
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I LOVE watercolors.
I'd have to look through my books but off the top of my head, you might like Creating Nature in Watercolor by Cathy Johnson and The Watercolorist's Nature Journal by Jill Bays.
A couple places for online ideas are:
http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/journal.html and http://www.watercolorjournaling.com/links.htm
In my eforts to simplify when I backpack I've started packing watercolor pencils with a travel brush.
Out there Farmgirl Sister
"May I live simply, so that others may simply live" ~Gandhi |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2008 : 3:06:24 PM
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The Watercolor pencils are lots of fun! I have worked with those before and since it is a bit more controlled I usually get a better effect. I must say though- I am not the best artist and my pictures probably wouldn't be out of place with a 10 year old's!
Elizaray |
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Kuiu Kate
outbound
16 Posts
Bull Frog's Garden
Headwater's Camp
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2008 : 5:24:20 PM
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Elizaray, what's important is that you enjoy yourself while you work on your pictures. As long as you enjoy it and the pictures have meaning and memories for you then it's a success! There are so many different styles among artists anyway, I find it impossible to compare one against another. There are particular styles I am drawn to more than others, but all art work is a creation to be admired and treasured! (Much like needle and hand work!)
There are a number of different papers and paints on the market and experimenting with them you may find greater success with one over another. For example hot pressed watercolor paper is quite smooth textured compared to the rough surface of cold pressed and some find it easier to control paint on, and for enabling detail work.
I like the paint boxes that hold little pans of watercolor paint esp. for travel. Daniel Smith Company makes a watercolor paint box that you put empty half pan and full pans into then fill with paints from tubes. If you fill your own paint box from tubes, be sure to let the paint set up in the box for a couple days before traveling so you don't get to camp and open your box to find the paints have all run together. One thing nice about putting in empty pans and filling them yourself (over buying a box already full of pans of paint) is that you can fill it with the colors you use all the time, and that if you prefer using large brushes (maybe you like to paint big) you can fill it with all full pans (most prefilled boxes come with all half pans) or like my preference, use full pans for colors I use alot of and half pans for those I use less.
Out there Farmgirl Sister
"May I live simply, so that others may simply live" ~Gandhi |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jul 30 2008 : 9:17:29 PM
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That's good advice, Kate! I think my biggest problem is that I need to learn a few of the basic artistic techniques. I think I have taken myself about as far as just playing around will take me. I either need to really study some art, read a bunch of books, or take a class (or all 3!!)
Do you ever order from the Dick Blick cataloge?
Elizaray |
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Kuiu Kate
outbound
16 Posts
Bull Frog's Garden
Headwater's Camp
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2008 : 09:29:54 AM
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>>>>Do you ever order from the Dick Blick cataloge?
Yes I do. I like they are a family business.
And occasionally I purchase from Cheap Joe's and Jerry's Artarama too.
I haven't purchased yet from these companies (below), but am always looking for organic and eco-friendly alternatives for everything, and the latter two sound like good materials for kids. I'm looking into them for ideas for my nephews, grandsons and god-daughter.
I haven't had a response from this first one yet:
http://www.ashbagash.com/
And this one advertises organic play dough!
http://www.clementineart.com/
This one advertises organic finger and face paints:
http://www.coloursbynature.com.au/Text/1191320563890-1823/pC/1144893687984-5222/Products-&-Pricing
A number of years ago, I borrowed a book from the library that I really found helpful, it's by Christopher Schink and I think it was titled "Matering Color and Design in Watercolor".
Classes are always fun!
Out there Farmgirl Sister
"May I live simply, so that others may simply live" ~Gandhi |
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Artists in the Outback: Outback watercolorists |
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Outback watercolorists
