Watercolor, colored pencil & graphite: 5 x 7

I am not really super pleased with this. I like the composition and the colors–but I feel like it isn’t finished. I think that I will set it aside and maybe come back at a later date to this composition. I am feeling good about the use of the colored pencil, I appreciate the richness of the layers of the pencils. I think that I need to let some of the watercolor come through more. In the next piece I think I will use more watercolor and just use colored pencil to accentuate areas only. Small amounts of graphite. Light touch.

Watercolor, colored pencil & graphite: 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″

Okay, I think that I am starting to get a better system down. In this piece I only used graphite at the very end and over the background image to keep the focus on the host flower. Its hard to know what to leave un-touched in the background. I tried to keep it light in areas. I actually really liked the image without the graphite, but it was almost too soft. The graphite adds some strength. I am really enjoying working in this small size format. Because the size is small, I can finish in a reasonable time and then move on to the next project–which helps with improvement I think. This work was suppose to be an about a 1/2″ wider, but early on I tore the paper–not patient enough to wait for the watercolor to dry and while removing the rubber cement the paper came away. So, rather than scrape the whole thing, I just decided to cut it down a bit!

Watercolor & Graphite: About 2 1/2″ x 2 3/4″

This is a study for maybe a larger piece. I think I will try this again larger and with a couple of different layers of watercolor. And, maybe some opaque watercolor and colored pencil in addition to the graphite. I am finding it difficult to get the inside of the flower to stand out. Opaque will help with that. I like the idea of working  on studies that are super small and then working into a final piece that is larger. I need to discipline myself to become more and more familiar with the subject and keep my attention focused on improving the next go round. I am always wanting to move right on instead of living with the subject.

Watercolor & Graphite 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″

Working small is hard! Yikes. I am not sure about the random color. I know the more I do of these the better and more controlled it will get. I think that in this piece there is too much white underneath. It’s hard to know when the underpainting goes down. I think for the next underpainting I will do some block out, throw down the color, pick up the block out and then do another layer of washed color. That might give me some depth and randomness but also less of a “stained” look. I think 4″ x 6″ or thereabouts is a nice size. Working smaller goes faster, but is almost too small depending on the composition.

Watercolor and graphite: 4″ x 6″

Much happier with the watercolor and graphite medium. I think the pastels are going to have to go into the bottom of the tool box for now. I am working with controlling the watercolor under the graphite…while still allowing the watercolor to do it’s own thing. Some areas were blocked out with rubber cement in order to maintain some white show through. This seems to work well…although hard to be too detailed with it…but that is probably a good thing for me. I am going to do two more watercolor grounds at the same time for the next two pieces. I like the idea of working on more than one at a time. I have one ground that is waiting for me…I just haven’t been inspired yet by the subject. I am really drawn to the shape and curve of the calla lily.

in progress

Pastel on paper: 4″ x 6″

I don’t think pastel is for me. I love works that other artists do, but I don’t know about this medium for me. I will keep trying…but after awhile I just get frustrated  with it. I think that I might need to break the piece down more simply, I try to get too detailed. That is one aspect of the watercolor and graphite that I like. The underpainting is just flowing color, but then I can get some detail in with the graphite. I may try to do some watercolor today without the graphite and see how that works out. And, I will consider trying the pastel with more blocks of color and less detail.

Watercolor underpainting and graphite, About 6″ x 6″.

I am working on the underpainting as just a guide and then drawing on top. In this case, I knew what I had in mind to draw. So, the color was chosen specifically for this subject. However, at some point the watercolor just does it’s thing and I am letting it. It makes for some unexpected happenings. My husband isn’t sure about it. I haven’t yet decided.

completed Calla Lily

Watercolor and graphite. About 5″ x 6″. I can’t do encaustic because my studio in the house isn’t well ventilated. So, I am stuck with traditional medium. I am trying to force a carefree feel to the pieces by doing a base of watercolor that is random and then choosing something to draw on top of it. I would prefer to use colored pencils, but I am away from the studio and all I have is watercolor and graphite. Oh, and pastels–but I am not interested in using those. Sometimes it is good to have limited options. I haven’t really worked with the watercolor…easy to get it muddy, so I am going to have to try a really light hand.

Encaustic paint, photo, pine cone sections on stone. About 4″ x 6″

This piece was inspired by all the great sunflowers that are blooming right now in Maine. These were fairly small ones, right outside the little pizza place in Winterport Maine. Pine cone sections from the trees in my yard. Stone from the beach, penobscot bay, Stockton Springs, Maine.