2/29/12

Azalea

Azalea Watercolor Sketches
The top watercolor sketch, in my journal, was done last week.  My class this morning wanted to do some more with the azalea plant, because they were determined to keep it simple.  The bottom two are demonstrations I did for that class.  I know not everyone is interested in keeping it this simple, but I, personally, don't care for detail.  I don't like doing it, and I'm not crazy about seeing it.  I do appreciate the talent of  people who render a detailed painting, but it isn't my thing.

 Sometimes we think we ought to do that  - we aren't real artists unless we paint photographic realism.  And sometimes we just get caught up in the details of an object and don't know how to let go.  I think knowing what the object or subject is saying to us, knowing what we want to say about the subject, and using a large (no smaller than a #12 round) brush will all go a long way toward keeping it simple.

These were very quick little paintings zooming in, cropping, and trying to capture just what it was that caught my attention  -  in this case it was the straight bottom edge of the plant.

There are creepy noises in the house this afternoon.  Yesterday when I went to put on my boots,  I found about a half cup of cat food in one of them!  Do we have a critter lurking here???!!!

8 comments:

Claire M said...

I appreciate your thoughts about keeping it simple -- definitely good food for thought since I hope to paint with a lighter feel.

Diana said...

I too need to hear that kiss technique. hope it's not a large critter! ha ha.. let us know. love,Diana

Catherine said...

Claire and Diana - I guess we all have to remind ourselves over and over to keep it simple. We seem to want to paint the whole world in great detail.

I haven't heard the critter since my husband came home - just like when the car makes a strange noise and doesn't do it for him.

Melissa said...

Two comments:
I've been looking at a book about Rie Munoz, Alaskan watercolorist, and reminding myself to KEEP IT SIMPLE and EXAGERATE shapes, as she (and you) does so beautifully.

And...I sometimes find little collections of birdseed in unlikely places. Thank-you gifts from the mice?

Catherine said...

Melissa - Rie Munoz does simplicity in such a beautiful way. Thanks for pointing her out - I'm going to spend some time studying her paintings. The shapes and colors are wonderful.

And the critters? We can only hope they are mice : )

Helen Sturgeon said...

Thank you! Simple is what attracted me to watercolor. Now, if I can muster up the courage to LEAVE IT ALONE and get out of a painting before I paint it to death....

Catherine said...

Helen - I think there are two reasons we over-paint. First, we think the painting isn't good enough yet. Second, we think it's going really well and we are having too much fun to stop.

RoseAnn Hayes said...

Photorealism is completely overrated. In my opinion, if you want photorealism, take a photo. The beauty of watercolor is in its fluidity and impressionistic quality. You are doing a beautiful job, and I agree - use the biggest brush you can for the job.