Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Back To School

Things have been hectic around here lately but I am still participating in my botanical art course. Two more classes to go! There was no class last week with the ASBA Conference taking front place. And with distractions of oil paints, an upcoming gallery exhibit, and rehearsals for a birthday party gig (I'm so out of practice), I didn't get to very much homework.

Today's class focused on reds. Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Winsor Blue Green Shade, and Raw Sienna made for a color that matched the salad leaf surprisingly well.


6 comments:

  1. I just love this page of studies and color tests; I think they can often stand as finished works, to my eye anyway. Lovely colors and I will be experimenting with this triad later this afternoon. Have you "found" your favorite watercolor paper yet? I recently have been painting on Fabriano HP but am missing my Arches HP big time.
    Only two more botanical classes? Where does the time go?
    ~ gretchen

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  2. Almost exclusively I have worked with Fabriano Artistico Extra White HP in blocks. I do have a couple of Arches blocks and seemed to feel that the Fabriano was a bit "tighter". By that I mean that it seemed that paint spread out a bit less. Perhaps it is a matter of sizing? I am not sure as my tests were way back when I first started painting. At this point, my paper has become a matter of habit.

    I have never painted on paper other than blocked and have read that there could be differences between block and sheet. Perhaps some testing with 300 lb sheets could be interesting.

    Just recently while wrapping up color charts I was so focused on watching my paper accept my paint. Fascinating! I am so used to working on gesso that a paper support became intriguing.

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  3. Thank you for sharing. I have been too busy with my crafts - conducting workshops and coming soon a craft market I have not had any done any drawing. My paints have arrived but still waiting for the brushes.

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  4. I seem to be on a bit of a paper odyssey at the moment. My new Arches is not "behaving" like my old stash and so I've been in an experimental phase. Oddly, my Fabriano test sheet is giving me the opposite results of your blocked paper. I too have read where blocks, pads and sheets of supposedly the same paper can vary widely in their surfaces. I haven't given up on my Fabriano yet as so many botanical artists love it to bits and your leaf and color study today inspires me even more to keep at it!
    ~ gretchen

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  5. So glad you enjoy this, Zarina. I will post more as the painting develops. All the leaves need more work at this point. Next week we turn to the beet leaf (the one on the left) as we continue to explore reds.

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  6. I suppose as much as anything that I was drawn to the Extra White property. Now you have me thinking that I might reevaluate my choice(s), but not right yet. Just picked up some hardboard panels so it is time for acrylic sealing!

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