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Wading in Water . . . Colors

May 27, 2014 By Colleen 3 Comments

watercolors

For years I’ve used acrylic paints. Not the artsy tube acrylics, the regular ol’ craft acrylics. They are really the only paint I’ve used for nearly 20 years.

I did try watercolors once before, way back in 1975 . . . in my one and only art class. The teacher didn’t like my effort. I still remember that painting because I worked really hard on it, unlike the other mediums of charcoal, pastels, oils in that class. I did a painting of a bank of beautiful trees outside my apartment that were changing from summer greens to autumn’s rich golds and oranges. But he didn’t like it because it looked like . . . well . . . it looked like trees. He wanted an impressionistic style. Or something. After that I stayed away from watercolors. Shoot, I stayed away from all art after that class!

paint peonies

Recently though, I’ve been drawn towards the watercolor look. I like the softness of it. It’s more . . . I dunno, more painterly than what I’ve been doing before. Achieving a watercolor effect was easy enough – just thin the acrylics with floating medium. Although for the Peony painting above, I think I gave 4 or 5 ways to dilute the paint.

A while back, while shopping in Walmart, I grabbed a set of tube watercolors and threw them in the cart. I thought it was time for me to grow up, be a big girl, and jump into the deep end of the painting pool and try some different mediums.

My goal with watercolors was to paint quicker. I don’t know what I was thinking. I guess when I looked at some other artists’ watercolors I (mistakenly) thought I could do the same and it wouldn’t take as long as with acrylics.

That’s not quite what happened though. What happened is, I squeezed out a couple colors of watercolor paint, dipped my brush into the water and then the paint, realized I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and threw the tubes into a box and stashed on the top shelf of the cabinet.

If it’s not broken, why fix it, right?

Oh, but art is a funny thing. Especially if it’s your livelihood as well as your passion. You walk a fine line between what your head tells you and what your heart inspires you to do.

watercolor radish

Last week I got out the stepstool and brought down that box from the top cabinet. I sketched some vegetables and started playing, not know the difference between Crimson Red and Brilliant Red.

watercolor peas

Mixing the various shades and hues was/is the tip of the iceberg. There are so many differences between watercolors and acrylics.

But there are some similarities too.

watercolor garlic

However, just when I think I’ve got something figured out – like a particular shading or something – it won’t work on the next veggie.

You know, it’s so weird that I started with a veggie collection because, for the most part, I can’t stand them. I hardly eat any vegetables save for corn. For greens, I eat salad. Being the youngest of 5 kids, Mom didn’t fight me on it and always assumed I’d grow out of it (I think she was just plumb worn out). Ha! I didn’t.

I digress.

watercolor bell pepper

There is so much to discover and learn about watercolors! How much water should be on the brush? Do I blend the colors on the palette or the paper? Is it better to paint a lot of layers or try to saturate the color with less layers?

I’ll tell you my favorite thing about watercolors though – how you can leave paint on the palette, come back hours or even days later and add a little water and Poof! you can continue painting! Absolutely love that, being the paint miser that I am.

watercolor red pepper

I think it was when I finished the red bell pepper that it hit me . . . watercolors weren’t faster. At ALL!

But maybe it’s because I’m a newbie. And maybe it’s because I don’t know how to highlight yet. Or maybe it’s because I’m just taking too darn long.

Or maybe . . . maybe it’s because I’m still trying to get my paintings to look realistic. Yep, that’s it.

And that’s okay, except that’s not what I originally intended to do. I wanted that softer, painterly look.

So I put the veggies away and started on a project for a blog I contribute to each month.

watercolor camper

Since I had messed around with the veggies for so long, I was already behind schedule for this project. After sketching the camper I debated between acrylics and my newfound loves.

I went with the watercolors, knowing there would be any shading or highlighting.

But I needed something else for the project, which is a printable for Father’s Day. I didn’t want to paint a background or stuff around the camper but it needed . . . something.

watercolor banner

I knocked out this watercolor banner in less than 15 minutes.

I stood back and looked at it, then sat down and just giggled.

I know it’s just a simple banner with no shading or highlighting or details but that’s just it – it’s simple! It’s soft and painterly, and exactly what I’d been wanting to do with watercolors.

watercolor camper

A little Photoshop magic and it was the perfect touch for the camper. And so much more. It’s also a reminder to keep it simple.

Even today, I started painting some watercolor fruit and before I knew it, I was back to my old ways of fine tuning and detailing instead of keeping them soft and easy.

Oh, I know I’m new at watercolors and it will take some time before I’m comfortable with them. But it’s so much more than just a new paint medium. It’s a new technique – AND – a new approach to painting. Every day there’s a new discovery to uncover.

I might still be wading in the kiddie pool, but boy-oh-boy am I ever having fun.

What’s your favorite medium? Or do you have a variety? Do you paint with oils? Acrylics? Watercolors? Anything else?

Colleen

about Colleen

Filed Under: Just Saying, my paintings, My Stuff, Paint Paper, Paint Surfaces, Paint Types, Watercolor

Comments

  1. Theresa says

    May 28, 2014 at 8:46 am

    I think you are doing well for a newbie. I have painted in watercolor, oils, and acrylics, though I now concentrate on watercolor. In fact, I used your drawings of the peony paintings to do a watercolor. I would love to show it to you. I posted a copy on facebook. Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  2. Theresa says

    May 28, 2014 at 8:47 am

    Oh, I just noticed that the painting showed up as the icon on my comment. Not very easy to see, but I think you can get an idea.

    Reply
  3. Kris says

    May 28, 2014 at 10:20 am

    Gee, Colleen, I’m someone who is lousy at drawing and painting and I admire your talent! I’m so glad you are doing what gives you joy no matter what that “teacher” said to you. Beauty and art are in the eye of the beholder!!! Thanks much for always keeping it real!

    Reply

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    About Me

    Hi there! I'm Colleen, a self-taught artist, writer and blogger, among other things. You don't get to be old enough to order off the Denny's senior menu without accomplishing a few things in life. Read More…

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