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Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Watercolor on The Side


Carousel #3; 6" x 8"; Watercolor on Strathmore 140lb.
AM for watercolors. PM for Oils.  AM for warming up over  my morning coffee. PM for getting serious with the oils.

This wc didn't go as smoothly as I would have liked. The phone rang. I had to answer. I shouldn't have. The interruption broke my concentration. By the time I got back, the paper had dried beyond where I wanted it to be.  I loved talking to my friend, but next time, I'll call her back or ignore the ring.  This painting tells me I am not a watercolorist, but then I knew that. Watercolor is just painting on the side to me. You all do it so much better.

As you might have noticed, I'm fooling around with finding a new header that says portrait, not watercolor.  Yesterday, I tried out three. Ended up with the kids. It's way too big, but I left it; life was going on in another corner of my universe. The one I liked the best was a self portrait in charcoal, however, I noticed I have to darken my  right eye, (left facing). Is our work never done! Your feedback is welcome as always.




22 comments:

  1. What I love about your watercolor is the colorfulness (is that a word?) and the spontaneity (even when you were interrupted by the phonecall)! I agree the selfportrait is a great banner!

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    1. Thank you, but I think it's a lot gaudy. I think I overdid to make up for when I talking on the phone and not doing.

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  2. I LOVE your new banner! Full of tenderness and exceptional composition. But I agree that the self portrait will be striking as a banner in it's simplicity as well.

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    1. Thank you minnemie. It's awfully large for just a header. I'm going to fix that eye and use the charcoal till something better pops up.

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  3. I just love your level of activity, Linda!! You're not a Virgo are you? :0))

    Much as I loved the original banner ... and the 'kid's is fantastically brilliant ... I think it should be the charcoal: it's a statement, a signature ... a look in the eye that say's I paint portraits and don't suffer fools gladly (love that cliché).

    I studied English all morning, Register Analysis, (my granddaughter and I are doing an English degree). I was then out giving her a driving lesson. Started drawing at 2pm and got a good 5 hours in. I'll do a bit more after I've finished here.

    We never get time to get old, Linda. :0))Your WC is better than mine btw!!!!

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    1. I'm a Capricorn--willful, stubborn, overly organized, persistent and loyal to a fault. I like the look in my eye in that charcoal. It sort of says "What DO you think of that?" Which is quite appropriate for a Capricorn who's put herself out on a limb in her forth quarter thinking she could make it as an artist.

      The watercolor is overdone--that's what happens when you get distracted, but tomorrow is another day. I think I'll try the subject again. Now, I'm working on one of my guys and contemplating the background. I'm loving sap green grayed.

      Going for an English degree is ambitious--and lots of fun going for it with your granddaughter. Good times. Good memories being made. I went to college after my kids went to school. I loved going as an adult. I knew what I wanted out of it and wasn't shy about demanding a return for my money. Enjoy all that stimulation. That's what keeps you young.

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    2. I home tutored this granddaughter (asthmatic) She's just finishing one degree Creative Writing. This will be my third degree since retiring :0)

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    3. Collecting degrees is more stimulating than golf. Good for you!

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  4. I like the charcoal better for a banner; the painting of the children makes me feel too sleepy.

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    1. Me too. I was too tired of fooling around with it so I left it for today--and still haven't gotten to that eye. At least this one is easy to photograph and translate.

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  5. Love you new header! It's perfect. Also love your watercolor. Whaddaya mean you ain't no watercolorist? It's wonderful!

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    1. Thanks Pam. And thank you for your kindness, but the wc did get away from me while I blabbed on the phone. I'm thinking of sinking it today very briefly into a vat to loosen it up a bit.
      I like to fool around to see how far you can go till you have gone too far. That's how I learn what's acceptable with a medium and what isn't. You might say, I like to break eggs.

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  6. I like the header very much. great angle and direct eye contact. I would keep it for sure.
    Thanks for your comment on my blog.

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    1. My pleasure Julie, I will return. I've put my acrylics on the back burner till I get the hang of oils. Your acrylics are wonderful. I didn't know you could accomplish what you accomplish with the medium. I'll be visiting often.

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  7. well...you are a better watercolorist than I am, by far. I love the new header. It is perfect. The icy gaze is cool. I discovered by reading the comments that you are a Capricorn. Me too! I had to laugh when you wrote: "loyal to a fault". That's me too. Next incarnation I'd like to be a flighty Aquarian.

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    1. No Aries! LOL. In our family there are three Capricorns to keep the the feet of our two Aries grounded.

      Thanks, I think I finally arrived at the right banner. Icy? You say. I wish--more EMF--pissed. The reference photo was taken in a Vegas Cabana in 100 degree heat, at high noon, that didn't block out the sun and cost my son three fifty.

      As for wc, I'll keep at it as long as I like playing in the water with color--which I have my whole life.

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  8. No,I don't think our work is ever finished, there is always something to be 'improved' . The new banner is super, you know immediately where you are when you get here , and I love those eyes :-)

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    1. The next painting will be the best ever. That's the way of it Jane. Thank you. You're one of the people whose watercolors make me say I'm not a watercolorist. I think this banner is it for me--well as long as the face stays where it is. LOL.

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  9. Hola Linda. El autoretrato es muy bueno, me gusta la expresión de la mirada. La acuarela es buena y veo que tienes tu propio estilo. Felicidades!

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    1. Esta acuarela es algo que nunca he visto antes. Eso es lo que me pasa por contestar el teléfono cuando debería haber dejarlo ir: fuerte y exagerada. Pero hoy, voy a hacer mi obra maestra. LOL. Gracias por su amabilidad Sonia.

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  10. I really like the new header Linda :-)

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    1. Thanks Agnes. It took a while to come up with it, but that's the way of it.

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