Carp Update

   I really have been having fun playing with the colors and scales, especially as I thought it would be impossible to create a decent impression of the scales without meticulously painting each one. But this has turned out to be OK. Now I think it's time to tackle the water, again in a more impressionistic yet realistic way.

The Basics Are Done ... Now ...

The plan

The finicky sketch

First "pours" of aureolin & quin. burnt orange

Some more aureolin, & indanthrone blue

Tone some of it down with burnt orange

Color on carp - aureolin, burnt orange & cobalt blue

   I've never painted a carp before now, and it seems almost all watercolorists do a carp sometime. So here I go ...

You Can't Win Them All ... or ... My Impatience Is Showing

A clematis I started , that will never be finished

   They don't all work out. In my case, it is usually because I have been too keen to start, and to finish. I don't do proper value sketches and color plans. And sometimes I have a feeling the paint should just FLOW off my brush, and do exactly what I want! WRONG!!! The clematis has some good points, but the tea dribbled on it negates finishing it. 

   The rabbit was to be for one of my co-workers, who at one time had a rabbit called "Smokey". Unfortunately, the rabbit has turned out looking like a "schmoo" - a cartoon character form decades ago; it was basically a white blob. Bunny aside, the rest of the work I like. The soft background washes I always love, and the grass effect I like as well. I'll definitely use that look again. 

The sketch doesn't look too bad

A bunny I was trying to do for one of my friends

  

A Short Evening's Walk

Tall trees surrounding a pond, with some very heavy-looking clouds behind

Sun-dappled birch

Big, beautiful maple along path

Horse-friendly entrance and gate

Park surrounded by small farms

   As the heavy rain has abated, I thought I'd head out for a quick walk. I live quite close to a large pedestrian/ equestrian park, and it's very lovely and relaxing to be there, either walking or riding.

   

No ... I Did Not Disappear Off the Edge of the Earth

A very photogenic Grace

Eyes, and some light washes of quin. burnt orange, quin. violet and indanthrone blue

More wet washes

I've started using some dry brush technique

   I was at the feed store a couple of weeks ago, stocking up on hay for His Imperial Highness, and I was attracted to a very sweet Bernese Mountain dog. I found out she "works" at the store with her owner, Danielle. I asked if I could take her outside for some photos, so all three of us went out, and Danielle helped me "pose" Grace. I've been playing with the painting for two weeks, and I think it still needs darkening of the blacks, and of course more depth of shadow. But she is a very sweet and attractive girl, and I think I am catching some of that in the portrait.

   This is not the first attempt, which is below. I'm glad I started anew, with a better angle of her face.



   

Another Farmish Moment ...

The very well camoflaged egg

Dancing up a storm to distract me
I can't even see her head

She was also very vocal

They actually look quite pretty when they do this

Temporary barricade

And Bruno couldn't care less

When I was hand-walking BrunZ around the ring yesterday, preparatory to riding [to let him get the saddle "feel", and tighten the girth] a killdeer became most upset and vocal. She was in one corner of the ring, and obviously had a nest there. 

   While I rode, she was extremely brave in her attempts to warn us away. At one point, I glanced below my inside leg/boot, and she was almost directly under us. Several times she swooped around Bruno, almost right under his nose. Thankfully, Bruno could not give a damn, and just kept evenly going on.

   After I finished riding, and took care of BrunZ, I went to the corner to see if I could find her nest. There was nothing yesterday, but today, while cleaning the ring, I found her nest with one egg. She will probably lay two or three more, and then it will be a few weeks till they hatch. We had a similar situation last year, when they decided to nest on top of the manure pile. I would get  scolded every morning by "mom" about not disturbing the kids.

   

It's Not Perfect, But ...

Indian woman
8.5 x 9 inches

   As I say, it is not perfect, but I am pleased. I did the painting quickly and efficiently in one day. I did not religiously follow a photograph. It is much looser than my usual style. It was good to try something different. PLEASE feel free to criticize; that's the only way I will improve. Thank you.