Using the watercolour backgrounds.

I have been adding bird paintings to some of my experimental watercolour backgrounds. These backgrounds were produced in one of my art classes, using clingfilm, or other cellophanes by pressing them into the wet paint, and leaving them there until the paint is dry.

I have added the birds to the examples that had a more tree or plantlike pattern, but also further accentuated by adding more colour into some of the negative spaces.

Oh dear, this poor Jackdaw only appears to have one leg! I will have to help him out by adding another!!

More art class results.

This week we were given a very colourful still life to explore with our watercolours, and a very large sheet of paper to work on. It was easier to stand for this one, something I don't usually do, (too lazy), but it was surprising how it really helped when working large.

I didn't get to finish it, so worked on it a bit more from home. I had taken the photos you see above as a reference. I decided to have another go on a much smaller scale, re-arranging just a few of the elements that I particularly liked. There was something about the large blue jug that attracted my eye, plus the contrasts in the fabrics colourful stripes, and the flowery scarf.

A couple of sketches where I was trying out the new composition.

A much smaller piece, and I've also changed the colours in the scarf.

Another sketch, this time using a paintbrush and paint, instead of a pen/pencil.

I've stopped here, I think I preferred it before painting the jug!

I have also been playing around with one of the experimental landscapes from my other (Wednesday) class, I won't be doing anymore to this one either, but I do feel that I'm learning more each time I put paint to paper.

Finally, the view from my spare room window where I do my artwork, and I think summer may have arrived at last. Gorgeous blue skies, and wall to wall sunshine, long may it last!

Fun with strange combinations!

During our art classes, we are continuing to have fun 'playing' with a combination of items that most folk wouldn't associate with watercolour painting. Above is the result I achieved by painting watercolour onto wet paper, and using granulation fluid and salt to encourage the paint to do strange things!

I could see trees in the finished result when dry, so pulled them out by using some inktense pencils, and a little extra paint in places.

I took some photos, and then printed one onto some cotton fabric, which enabled me to stitch into it. The colours were more subtle, but it was an interesting exercise.

I also printed the same photo onto a sheet of Tyvek, and then added heat by hovering an iron over the surface. The result is above, and reminds me of pebbles. I obviously 'hovered' for a second or two longer than I should on the right hand side, and as you can see, a few holes appeared! 

We have also been using clingfilm on the surface of the paper while the paint is still wet. It has to be left until the paint is dry, but gives some really fascinating patterns and textures as you can see in the above example. I could see foliage and flower shapes, so gave it a bit more help by adding a few details.

in the example above and below, I have cut up some of the papers when dry, and collaged them, giving an abstract image. 

Not sure what I will do with the example above, but as you can see, the clingfilm has given some very interesting results. We have been following some ideas from a book by Ann Blockley called Experimental Landscapes in watercolour. There are some wonderful images in her book, but I have a very long way to go to get anywhere near producing work like that, if ever!!

Finally, I took this photo of part of a wall on Pevensey Castle. There is something about the combination of shapes and colours that attracted my eye! Maybe inspiration for another piece of  stitched artwork!

Thanks for dropping by.