I do not know what I find so fascinating about watching the light fall off the horizon. Perhaps it is the panoply of colors? The stillness that comes as the wind dies down?Regardless of why I may have been known to speed my car up ever so slightly to get to a place where I can enjoy a vista of the sun sinking from view. Note: I did not do that for this image, but I did speed up my walking once I was at my destination in order to not miss the last rays. Maybe you have been known to do the same thing?
0 Comments
I came across Jess Bruggink's work on instagram & loved her colorful readable combinations of watercolor & text, what she calls "watercolorwords". At the moment she is running a generous promotion on her etsy site, where 100% of the proceeds go to charity:water; I know you will find that last Christmas gift you are looking for in her shop. Jess' fun playful work is definitely worth an in-depth look, as it is sure to brighten your day. So check out her website, instagram, dribble, twitter for all of the goodness on display. And be sure to read her #paletteproject answers below. What color do you wish wasn't there? Maybe the dark brick red color although it balances the brights and pastels nicely.
What is your favorite brush? I am still learning what brushes I like to work with so I've been trying lots of different kinds out. I really love this 1 princeton neptune brush in the photo for acrylics and watercolor. It also happens to be super pretty. Most often I use different cheap round brushes but I am slowly building up my supply of nicer ones. What is your favorite paper/surface to paint on? I've been painting on arches 140 lb cold press watercolor block. I've also recently started using more hot press paper. I like switching back between smoother papers and ones with more texture. I really like painting on smooth acrylic hard board too. Just depends on what type of painting I'm doing and on my mood! What is your favorite color to work with? I tend to gravitate toward bright orange reds and hot magentas mixed with subdued neutrals. I'm also loving neon opera pink gouache. Yesterday was my birthday & I had the good fortune to be camping (mostly away from wi-fi & cell service). This was the sunset that closed the day my first night out. I don't think I will ever tire of such beauty.
I love drawing faces so over the past few weeks I have painted some. It has been a very different experience, with a distinct learning curve, but highly enjoyable. What do you like drawing? Have you ever tried painting it?
Today I will share my palette & answer the questions that I pose to others, Seems only fair, right? I think my next palette will forego sepia (in the upper right). It was included on the off chance I felt compelled to do a traditional landscape, but the likelyhood of that happening is .006%. So the next palette will leave out sepia.
My favorite brush is a Princeton Brush Company 16 Round Neptune. The amount of paint it can deliver to the page is impressive & satisfying. For painting I will always choose a hot press, preferably Aquarelle Arches Watercolor Blocks. They are not manufactured in large enough sizes for my current vision so I use other papers. But in my heart of hearts my favorite paper is Rives BFK, 280gsm. This is the printmaking paper I use & my most long-lasting relationship with any product. The surface is super absorbent, but still bleeds allowing for color saturation & intensity. I gravitate towards colors that are almost black, but with cool-toned nuance. Without a doubt my favorite color is Payne's Grey by Winsor & Newton. Is it grey? Is it blue? Surely not black? This versatility is what keeps me using this color over & over. I also happen to think it is pretty. A close second in terms of favorite color would be Perylene Green, also by Winsor & Newton, also almost black. Those are my answers & like everything else they are subject to change, but I hope you find them useful & perhaps they will lead you down a different painting road you had not yet thought to explore. "Hope" is the thing with feathers By Emily Dickinson "Hope" is the thing with feathers-- That perches in the soul-- And sings the tune without the words-- And never stops—at all-- And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard-- And sore must be the storm-- That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm-- I've heard it in the chillest land-- And on the strangest Sea-- Yet, never, in Extremity, It asked a crumb—of Me. |