CHALLENGE 29 - March 2013

C. Brown wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 6:34 AM

Aubrey cont. ;) I think part of being a watercolorist is learnig to be a master of damage control. Not done yet but just an update here.

B.J. Bailey wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 7:38 AM

Catherine, your Aubrey looks very nice with the darker background behind her. I think you've managed to reduce her nose and now her head size is more related to her body.

B.J. Bailey wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 7:50 AM

Here is Goldie, I think there needs to be more done with this but thought I would post incase I don't do well with anything further. That is always my fear in watercolour, once I reach a certain point, I hate to go on. There was a lot of shadows of grasses and plants in the photo that probably should be added I debated but think it would look more natural with a little kaos added like you would find in nature.

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 8:10 AM

Bonnie, the colors and values you've used on the lily pads are super.  The water is beautiful.  The koi is well done.  The few hyacinth on the right appear to be lying on their sides on the surface of the water.  This is coming along nicely.

C. Brown wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 9:53 AM

Bonnie this is beautiful! I know what you mean about doing more to a watercolor that you're "kinda" ok with at the moment. One wrong stroke and your committed to something that may or may not add to the beauty of it. I really like how you've captured the body of Goldie. Her little fins are perfect imho.

B.J. Bailey wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 4:10 PM

Thank you Sam and Catherine. Sam, I used the same colours in the leaves that are in the rest of the painting. I used thaylo blue, winsor violet and cadmium yellow. The dark water is a mix of the blue and violet to try and make it dark and the yellow for Goldie. Catherine, yes the fins are tricky with the little lines and then covering them with the washes.

wetpaperfan wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 4:36 PM

Bonnie I just love the way you have captured my Goldie Koi...  she was 14 inches long and what a beauty, the sun would reflect off her scales like diamonds.   I like that you added the hyacynth,  my only suggestion would be to add cast shadows from them as you did the reeds in the water.  I believe that would make them stand up.  before you do it get other opinions first.  a great job with the fins, so delicate,  I love the colors and everything else about this piece,  this would look good on my wall. 

wetpaperfan wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 4:40 PM

Cath,  this is very interesting to put her in amongst Easter Island statues...  and using the dark background to make her nose smaller, good job with that.   This has been quite a journey for you....  kuddos to you  

Joyce Lydia wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 6:31 PM

Hello everyone, March is 1/2 over almost and I haven't even started on a picture yet so I'm going to show you a few painting I have already done and plan to still do one of the challenge pictures.  Not the fish picture of the challenge but they are fish.  I just finish this painting using acrylics less than 45 minutes ago. More painting to come  .  this painting is with watercolors.  The picture that was used is a picture that was taken in England at the Cromford Canal a few years ago.  

B.J. Bailey wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 6:57 PM

Thank you Marsha and Jen. I think the shadows from the flowers would be good and will try that. I also wonder Jen if the lily pads aren't a little flat in the back when you would see more of the edges.

ohsuzanne wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 8:11 PM

6" x 8" soft pastel on pastel paper

Alexandra Spencer wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 8:47 PM

Susanna, this is a beautiful pastel painting of the narcissus flycatcher bird. The sky in the background is lovely, too, and I very much like the way you portrayed the leaves and branches in the background - very artistic.

Joyce, it's great to see you posting your art. First, the fish! This painting is very dynamic and strongly conveys action and movement. I love that that the fish overlap each other. The translucence of the tails and fins is beautiful. Second, the Cromford Canal watercolor. So soft and peaceful and pretty with its sun-dappled grass and reflections in the water. It looks like just what it is - a lovely scene from the British Isles.

Bonnie, what a lovely painting of Goldie in the lily-pond. Just beautiful. I know you debated whether or not to keep adding elements but the water, koi, and lily pads stand on their own. The color palette and translucence of the fish and water are also lovely. (A very minor consideration: Although they aren't the first things you notice, perhaps you could develop the hyacinths further in a future iteration, as it isn't clear whether they are upright or lying against the surface of the water.) This is, in my opinion, one of your loveliest pieces, and I hope you mat and frame it.

Catherine, it's interesting to see Aubrey develop step by step, and I'm watching to see where you go with your portrait of her.

wetpaperfan wrote

on 10 Mar 2013 9:55 PM

JOYCE, so happy to see you....  I love your koi and canal paintings the sky, the fins the colors the water.  I have one koi with similar markings.   looking forward to see more of your work....