Daffodils

Its been a month since my last painting. Been very busy with errands and it took me awhile before I was able to buy what I need.

I ordered some more paints and Arches paper online, so my next painting I have to be more careful because I will be using an Artist grade paints and Paper! Wooah! Im moving up! LOL
Just kidding.

FLower painting

When I painted this I was so frustrated because I feel like I couldnt make it look like  flower. First time I used this paper. After a few glazes, the paper is rubbing off!! I cant lift off the color! So I stopped. I almost threw this painting in my dismay. After 2 days, I saw it again taped on my wall, I figured before I give up on it, I want to give it a try. After tweaking it a bit, I think it does not look as bad as before.

painting of Tulips. I got bored with this painting because It took me a long time removing the masking because the droplets are soo small and I have to take my time or else the paper will get damaged.

Calla Lilies

Perched Parakeets-watercolor

This particular painting was not hard to do although its time consuming. I felt I could have done a much better job with the feathers but I was running out of patience. hahahaha.

For the background it took me several washes before I achieved the dark background. I made the mistake of  removing the masking tape before it was completely dry so in the morning there was a major warping. I had to tape it down again.

Anyways, my first ever paiting of birds since college (1992) LOL

Another portrait, different skin tone series

 ok, so the second portrait from the series I will make is a brunette colored girl ( is that correct?)
The original reference photo has gingham checkered blouse. I started painting the squares individually, but who am I kidding right? I just don't have the time, between juggling with hamlet and my house chores. hahaha,

So I kinda "suggested" the check with this effect and just hope for the best!

The technique for this portrait is mainly ( patience?? ) glazing and layering of colors to achieve the one color of the skin. So I started using red, yellow and eventually to darken the skin, violet hue ( mixed)

The hair is a bit challenging too but I think I did a pretty good job.

Till my next post.. don't know what to paint yet but I know an inspiration will come to me eventually.

Portrait-light skinned blonde girl

I don't have the right colors to achieve the correct skin tone for this portrait, so what does a girl like me do? Go on ahead and improvised!  Flesh tone colors are winsor yellow, cadmium red (suppose to be Alazarin red and scarlet lake) and permanent rose.

The eye color should have been a turquoise shade of blue, but I used a blue green with yellow instead.

I will probably do this portrait again. I learned a lot and can't wait to do more.

Moody Portrait - watercolor and eatercolor pencil

Recently bought a watercolor book that teaches different techniques. The book teaches you to experiment with different mediums, techniques and tricks. The above portrait is one of the excercises that teaches you how to create your own tone paper.

I used watercolor pencil mainly but the base started as a wash of cerrulean blue and burnt sienna with yellow ochre.

this was my first try. I used chinese white (gouache) for opaque effect. On the right is just a wash effect using watercolor pencils (Derwent) which I like better. I like the way the texture of the paper and some of the unwashed pencils are see n here, although I don't think the portrait was very good ( no reference)

Painting Flowers

I bought a book at National bookstore, painting flowers using photographs. I love all the paintings! Unfortunately, almost all of the paintings require me to use a masquepen or masking fluid for the veins of the flowers and to achieve the intricate  details of the flowers. The painting above and below are just a few of the watercolor projects that does not require any masking fluid.

But the books teaches the techniques needed for flower painting, as well the colors you will need to build your palette.

 for this painting, I made a few alterations and I did not stick with the colors used in the example ( simpky because most of them I dont have ) so I just used whatever is similar. I find that the green stems over powered the flowers abit so I lifted the colors. Maybe I will just correct some tones next time.

 Now for the above paintig, admitedly, I painted itin a hasted. I used a sponge (man made ) to create the effect of the flowers. I was a bit lazy and distracted at that time with my son so I just wanted to finish the painting right away.