It’s Nice to see the Growth

I picked up watercolors for the first time in February 2018. I have always considered myself a “wanna be” artist. I always wanted to be skillfully artistic, but lacked it or the natural ability to effortlessly sketch something out. I finally decided to change that. After all, I had been told countless times it was something I could learn. Imposter syndrome also held me back for decades. I never believed I could actually successfully learn how to render things. I know it sounds silly but that negative voice in my head had a freaking megaphone. That voice drowned out hope and optimism completely.

Well, here I am, almost 3 full years later. I have taken one drawing course, one watercolor course, and spent countless hours making marks. (I have attempted to attend a specific workshop but due to powers beyond control and COVID it hasn’t happened yet…. my next chance is in April!) I failed forward. I know all you accomplished artist know what I’m talking about. You’ve done it. But there are tons of folks like me. That are or have been too scared and self conscious to show anyone the things we scratch out. Not too long ago I purchased a watercolor journal/sketchbook and yesterday I finished a page in it after finding the hash tag DoodleWashNovemeber2020 on social media. When the page was filled i was a bit proud of myself. Never in a million years did I think I would have have a page of doodles or sketches that would actually look like it was done with any amount of skill.

I know it’s not “fine art” but it’s mine and I’m proud of it.

I look forward to continuing with the Doodlewash monthly prompts. I may even go back and hit some of the past ones. They date back to 2016 from the quick glance I had. I do appreciate folks that organize these prompt list. Give me just the right nudge to challenge myself and grow a wee bit more.

My Current WIP and My First Plein Air Painting

The romantic thought of plein air painting has always appealed to me. Sitting one with nature, capturing its beauty with pigment and water…. getting bitten by bugs, fighting the wind, scared to death someone would come over and start judging my work, making comments… Fear stopped me, but this year has been extraordinarily stressful and early September is historically difficult for me (anniversary of my father’s death). This year it’s hurts a little more (a lot). See, my youngest daughter is getting married. My father never met her. Foregoing the emotional journey just know it slays me that there will be an empty chair on her special day. My husband wanted to help take the sting out of that anniversary and told me to pack up my painting supplies and drove me the 1 1/2 hour drive to Little River Canyon. He told me to pick my spot and sat with me as I painted my very first on location plein air painting. Pretty happy with the way it turned out. I did have to stop short cause we were being bitten by this pesky fly.

It’s my first, I’ll take and be glad.

My current WIP is coming along and I’m pretty happy with it’s progress. For some reason I’ve gained a lot of confidence in my work these past two pieces. I am by no means mad about it.

Every now and again something awesome…

Falls outta my paintbrush.

Today was one of those days.

Studio dump…

Thinking about switching to a once a week studio dump here.

Baby girl is getting married in a few weeks and I haven’t had the mental capacity to do thoughtful post but still want to share.

So here are some of this week’s doodle and a painting for your pleasure. Best thing I’ve done for myself is invest in a roll of news print paper to play on. It has unleashed the doodles… 🤣

Would like to thank @grateful.jesse on Instagram for allowing me to use his photo as a reference to my painting. Check him out next time you’re on the Gram.

A Long Drive plus Draftsmen Podcast equal a Rambling self introspective narrative.

I started listening to this pod cast when it first came out. I listened regularly for quite a while. Then life happened, habits and situations changed and it’s been a hot minute since I last listened. That changed today as I had a 4 hour drive. I started at the beginning of the second season. Ironically one of the long internal dialogue I have been having with myself is why….? Why am I on this art journey. To what end? What do I want out of it other than it is always something I have wanted to do?

The host touched on that in the episodes I listened to today. And it has me thinking….

At this point I have no intention of every selling my art. That’s not to say it won’t ever happen, but it’s not my life’s goal to be a “professional artist”. If it happens more power to me. If it doesn’t I won’t be any worse for wear. But WHY, WHAT is it I am trying to convey? I am not a consumer of art. Most of the art in my home has been gifted to me. I am not “moved” by art. It rarely (if ever) evokes emotion (music is a different story). I don’t want to copy photographs or landscapes (although I do prefer a realistic style at this point, having no deep emotional ties to art, abstract pieces are lost on me). So then, why art? Most of my subjects are from my where I was born and raised (the tropics). I paint what reminds me of home. To bring what is under the sea on land. I would LOVE to have a saltwater aquarium, but travel too much to maintain one. Bottom line I paint for me. I get transported to where I want to be. To where I love. (When I am far from my beloved Florida, 5th generation Floridian, the tropics are in my blood.) to share that tropical love with those who can’t be there all the time, like me (currently landlocked nowhere near the tropics half the year. During cold winter months, my art is an escape.

At the same time I also LOVE the process of watercolors. The science behind how and why it does what it does. The controlling of the water, the uncontrollable aspects of super wet on wet. It’s magical.

*Sigh*

The rest of tonight and tomorrow I will dedicate to making a few artistic goals. There are a specific goals I already have in place, but they are tiny and just a means to an end. I’m talking I will seek to answer the above. My minor goals are learning how to render certain subjects. Something is missing from this journey, I don’t know what…. THAT is what I am looking for… that missing piece. Any suggestions, hints, thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Til next time, take care of you…

Watercolor on tan toned paper.

I have always been curious about watercolors on tan toned paper. Back in December, before I restarted this blog, I actually gave it a shot. Much to my surprise i liked the results! Looking back I’m not sure why I haven’t done another one.

Color Mixing #4 Cobalt Blue and still (kidney) stoned (LOL 😜)

I am not entirely sure why or how I ended up with Cobalt Blue in my collection of paint. I have no doubt I bought it, just don’t remember where, when, or why. However, I now am THRILLED I did. When I first started my watercolor journey Ultra Marine Blue (UMB) was hailed as THE blue to use. So I listened to seasoned vets and full blown artist and swore UMB would be my blue to the very end. It does make some nice mixes (with the exception of green, I never liked the greens I mixed with my yellows).

I was pleasantly surprised as I watched these yummy colors develop on my palette as I mixed Cobalt Blue with my essential colors. I just wanted to lick it! They are GOREGOUS! I then went on to mix with frequently used colors that aren’t in my “essential” palette. Those secondary colors were icing on an already delicious plate. I’m now hooked on and convinced that Cobalt Blue is now replacing UMB. Not to say I won’t ever reach for UM again, I’m sure I will, just not for a while.

Top Center (clockwise) Azo Yellow, Nickel Quin Gold, Hansa Med, Marine Blue, UMB, Cobalt Teal, Opera (DS), Pyrrol Scarlet, Quin Rose, Raw Umber< Green Apatite Genuine

Top Center (clockwise) Diox Purple, Rose Ultramarine, Violet Ultramarine, Violet Cobalt, Bloodstone, Moon Glow, Burnt Bronzite Genuine, Bordeaux, Hooker’s Green, Phthalocyanine Green, Burnt Sienna, Buff Titanium

So there ya have it, Cobalt Blue in all its beauty. I still have my kidney stone… It shifted a bit over the last few days and the pain, while still nothing that Advil can’t take care of, is increasing. Come on Wednesday, ready to get this thing blasted!

Until the next one, take the best care of you!

hfc❤

Color Mixing #3 Hooker’s Green And Kidney Stones…

Hooker’s green was an impulse buy. I didn’t need it, not necessarily a fan of it, but just picked it up because I wanted to have a dark green convenience color. It breaks my “single pigment” rule for tubes, but again I don’t use it much (up to this point. I must say, I am LOVING the browns and neutrals that I mixed. I will have to add it to my fall inspired paintings. Not my usual “cup of tea” but, on occasion, I do whip one out. That said this 15 mm tube will probably last me a lifetime. Please forgive the not-so-neat painting job. I am in the process of passing a kidney stone and was having pain flare ups. I go get it blasted on Wednesday!

Starting Top Center (going clockwise) Azo Yellow, Hansa Medium, Marine Blue, Ultra Marine Blue, Cobalt Teal, Phthalocyanine Green, Nickle Quin Gold, Raw Umber, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ocher, Ultra Marine Turquois, Manganese Blue Hue. Background Hooker’s Green

Nothing really to write home about in the above color rosette. The colors are nice, but don’t fit in with my standard tropical subjects.

Starting top center (clockwise): Alizarin Crimson, Pyrrole Scarlet, Quin Rose, Quin Lilac, Holbein’s Bright Rose, Daniel Smith’s Opera Pink, Windsor Newton’s Opera Rose, Rhodonite Genuine, Bloodstone, MoonGlow, Diox Purple, Lamp Black.

This rosette was my favorite of the two. The colors are so flippin’ rich and beautiful. It just may cause me to paint a few extra fall scenes/landscapes this fall. The colors are so yummy! Not sure what color I will mix next or how many I will get to mix before my procedure… So until the next one, take care of you!

Watercolor play (It needs a name, help?)

I often like to throw down lots of water, loose pigment and salt. I let that dry and play the good ol’ version of “I spy”. My husband saw the seahorse I saw the jellyfish. Sometimes the images are easy to pick out, other times there’s nothing to see. I lay those a side until I am inspired to pick something out of nothing. This one needs a name…. I’ll take suggestions…

Wow It’s been a hot minute

And a lot has changed since I last sat down to this blog. 2017 was a rough year, and started off a string of years that became more challenging than the prior year. I really thought 2020 was gonna be different. It started out SO MUCH better than previous year. Even my husband thought we finally broke the string of difficult situations. JKLOL.

I was done with 2020 when we had to cancel our vacation to Grenada. I know a lot of vacations have been canceled this year. But this was my 5th vacation out of 6 that has been scrubbed for reasons beyond my control (usually dealing medical emergencies). And 2020 hasn’t let me down. This time it’s me…. facing some unknown bladder / kidney issue. I go to get a cat scan next week if the status quo doesn’t change. Not to mention all the other crap going down in the world. I can honestly say the majority of my friends are all “over it”. (Like who isn’t)

But what has changed since I last sat down to this? Lets see, I closed my Etsy store (that is a dumpster fire that I am glad I bailed on before I invested too much time and money) and turned my attention to a life long dream of learning to draw and discovered watercolors…(not in that order).

For the last two years I have taken two art classes and have watched TONS of tutorials and spent HOURS painting. I’ve learned an incredible amount and now can almost comfortably call myself an artist. I have come a long way. I have got a long way to go. I am no “fine artist” by any means. My favorite mediums are graphite, water soluble graphite and watercolors/gouache. I prefer to paint beach scenes and all things aquatic. You can take the girl out of the tropics but you can’t take the tropics outta the girl. As of right now, my work isn’t for sale. Although my daughter says to slap a price on it and see what happens LOL. Who knows, maybe by the end of the year, I’ll have the courage to do so! I may just look around here and see what other artist post. I never thought to check out blogs for Watercolorist…

Cheers!

hfc