Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Added a complementary-colored background to see if could make the yellow "pop"; it's some help, but I'm not thrilled--which is what complementaries are supposed to do, thrill you. Mine are too weak: the trouble with this painting, and it can't be fixed, is that the ratio of paint to water wasn't right when I painted it: too much water. "They" say this is the hardest aspect of watercolor painting to master, and, I add, the most important! Colors come out dull with too much water.

Here's a smaller, 7.5x11, attempt, painted (to some degreee anyway) with more pigment.
I think I have to work more consciously on the way I apply the paint, not just on what I'm painting.
The daffodils are still alive so ...
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7 comments:

  1. Suzanne McDermott11:34 AM

    I love the top painting. It's a really nice study. The yellows are far better and the blue is quite beautiful. Laura, I don't know many artists who are satisfied with every piece they make - or many pieces they make. Sometimes I think of each painting I do as an exercise in itself because, in fact, it is. It's really difficult to "see" your own work especially after working on it intensely for a while.

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  2. laura1:03 PM

    I try to be philospohical about the "failures," reminding myself what my mother, an excellent cook, says when a dish doesn't meet her expections: Every day's not a winner. "Let your doing be a practice" (Jean Toomer) is another one I try to keep in mind; no effort is a total loss, if nothing else it contributes to the next attempt; it's all about the doing. I think it's when I'm not in that frame of mind that I don't do well!! And, finally, one thing I am not, is a good judge of my own efforts--which is another reason why blogging is so wonderful and helpful! Thanks!

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  3. Mineke Reinders8:10 PM

    I really really like the smaller one! It's so fresh in its simplicity, and I love those touches of magenta. But I agree with Suzanne that the blues in the other one are beautiful, too.

    Your daffodils have gone to my head, I just had to have some for myself, but in the end I brought home a bunch of tulips, because the store didn't have daffodils... The tulips are pretty, too, but so floppy they look weird. I may do a sketch tomorrow if I have time.

    Anyway, thanks for the inspiration!

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  4. About10:52 PM

    Well they look like springtime to me!!! They both have a fresh, light feel to them. Sometimes a light touch is just the thing. Beautiful.

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  5. laura11:24 PM

    Daffodils, tulips--all good! I do like flowers with trumpet or bell shapes though--gloxina, Canterbury bells, trumpet vine. Oh, Easter lilies, which should be available soon!

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  6. Melanie10:11 AM

    my vote?
    i really love them!
    Each painting seems very 'refreshing' to me.
    Watercolor drives me nuts too... but something keeps bringing me back - i think it's because of those moments of genius when the water/paint ratio and everything else just falls into place and your left saying... wow! did i do that??
    now, if i could just figure out to make that happen with every painting... ha!

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  7. laura10:16 AM

    I couldn't agree more, Melanie--the potential to have that "wow" feeling is worth any frustration. Also, I'm always amazed how there's a person for every painting: I may not like it but my brother thinks it's my best one; I like it, my friend is lukewarm about it ...

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