3/26/10

Geranium Watercolor Sketch


A Winter Geranium in my Watercolor Journal

This was a fast warm-up for our class yesterday. I am really trying to get across to my students that we can do a lot of small, colorful, satisfying paintings without fretting over them. Let's record some of the color in our every-day lives! And make it snappy!

Winter is notoriously burn-out time for artists in Northern Michigan. It is dark, cold, and long ~ and it ain't over yet! (Spell check thinks "ain't" is okay ~ times have changed) Painting pretty colors, trying out compositions and just doodling in our sketchbooks fills the void and keeps the brushes moving.

Don't think "finished product", think "journey". Journal, journey ~ hmmmm.

8 comments:

Marpia said...

Great advice! Yesterday I practiced painting surf/waves.
Think unfrozen water. Yes!

Catherine said...

Marpia - I'm TRYING to think unfrozen water. We still have ice along the shore. I understand it is very cold downstate also.

Think unfrozen water. Think spring.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! I love it! I have one just like this blooming by the south window in our sunroom/sitting room. Maybe I should paint it. I think it would be fun! While it's cold there, think of this geranium blooming on a white chair with black legs... and back rest. BJR.

Catherine said...

BJR - Yes! Paint it!

Sydney said...

I love your sketchbook page - thanks so much for the inspiration and the reminder about what it really important.

Catherine said...

Sydney, thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

BARBARA WEEKS said...

This is so cheery and fresh!

Catherine said...

Barbara, thanks. It is so hard to find any color this time of year in northern Michigan. I just discovered a crocus in the back yard - it's white, but I'm on my way outside to paint it.