Yet Another Mediocre Watercolor


Somewhat overworked. Didn't really scan in all that well -- paper is that warm off-white stuff that never seems to scan correctly, so tried to "fix" the warmth in ps, went too far the other direction, etc. So you'll have to imagine something a little in between white and this not-right yellowish color.

Regardless, once again I have no idea how people paint in watercolor and get any results other than a big brownish mess.

I know part of the trick is organization and clean water and rags, but carrying all that on my bike is tricky.

The color of those trees (a greenish/purplish alizarin crimson with a bit of cad red) has always been difficult to come up with, even in oils.

And of course, as always when painting outdoors, the light changes constantly.

Still trying to get back into all this. Is a good thing to start looking again, and not be in the house all the time.

Maybe I should get a pad of actual white paper. Might make things easier. But that would mean spending money, and we're just not doing that right now.

Labels: art, painting

- posted by Cynthia @ 4:19 PM | | | Link |

 
Update On Cow Chip Parade Painter
At Wilmette Public Library this am -- asked about the painting by Pat O'Hara I loved so much -- Friends of Library folks groaned and said, "You just missed him." Apparently he's a former advertising guy, who "invented" (their words) the Speedy Alka Seltzer character (can't find a credit for him on the Alka Seltzer site, but no surprise there). One of the members who had taken a class with him said he works very carefully, from many reference photos and drawings spread out all around.

If the library had a People's Choice award, his painting would have won it, according to them. A lesson for everyone: an even better (in their opinion) painting he did was rejected from the show last year.

A little about Speedy here. My original post is here.

Labels: art, painting

- posted by Cynthia @ 11:05 AM | | | Link |

 
Pat O'Hara: Cow Chip Parade


This was my favorite painting in the latest Wilmette Public Library show. I've googled Pat O'Hara but can't find anything online. I really loved this painting -- it should have won a prize. Beautifully simple.

Yes, there really is a Cow Chip Parade (I found the site while searching for the artist). Check it out. Tons of loony fun.

Half of my family is from Kennebunkport, Maine and the big event of the summer used to be the Dump Parade -- floats made of junk ending up at the dump (family members lived right next door, so was convenient). Can find little online about it -- hasn't been around for ages, apparently.

Finally getting around to unloading my camera. More postings later.

Labels: art, painting

- posted by Cynthia @ 10:12 AM | | | Link |