Friday, August 20, 2010

Happy Friday!



I saw these sailboats from far away. It turns out it was the local summer camp sailing. The shapes of the white triangles moving about each other against the blue water and sky was so calming. I wanted to capture this dance and I wanted to be in one of the sailboats, too!


I had one piece of hot press paper left. I cut it in half to get these two very horizontal pieces of paper. Once I had these long pieces of paper, I was getting more comfortable with the idea in my head and how I would put it on paper. It made sense to have these very long pieces of paper emphasizing the experience of what I would see if I was in one of the boats right there.


I am starting to really like hot press paper. Because of my lack of experience using it, I feel that I have more freedom to experiment. These boats may look like it was very easy to do. But, for me, achieving a look that looks free and quick is so hard. The image at the top was the second painting. In this painting, I am pleased with myself for having the confidence to use my artistic license more. I kind of just imagined this one.


I posted these paintings because they make me happy. So Happy Friday. It is our official last Friday of summer. School starts Monday.


Thank you for all of your comments, they make my day!

15 comments:

  1. These two paintings are great. I like the compositions and the slight abstraction They do have a happy feel about them.

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  2. Beautiful! You captured the movement, the freedom, the relaxed happiness of watching sailboats go by...and of being on one! ~Kathy

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  3. Anthony, thank you! I have received so many requests to do abstract, but, I don't know how to do that. So I have been trying to find/experiment with noticing the geometric shapes and looking at the subject that way vs. being so realistic.

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  4. Kathy, thank you for stopping by. I am enjoying your blog very much. I have been thinking of your market photos and after school starts I will be able to sit down and focus on them!

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  5. Doing some work from imagination is really difficult. You managed it. The reflections in the water in the lower one are fascinating.

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  6. Thank you for visiting me
    Beautiful watercolors
    love the composition and the rhythm of the sails!

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  7. You have done so well with the limited palette, the almost abstract images, the rhythm of the sails and the sense of movement!

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  8. Asit, thanks. I just went back to look at the reflections. I did the water last so that I could save my whites. I find working on hot press paper is easier for me to achieve the reflections. I also agree that working from the imagination is so difficult. I was inspired by niece since her entire painting was from her imagination.

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  9. Suzanne, I am so glad you stopped by. Now do you see why I loved your last post about summer ending and all of your wonderful seaside inpired photos. I adore the wreath. Did you make it? What did you use as the base. I would love to have that hanging in my house.

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  10. Thank you, Marie. That means a lot to me coming from you with all of your gorgeous beach inspired paintings!

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  11. Wonderful format and composition. I just got from a week at our lakehouse and saw a similar scene. They teach sailing lessons in our cove. You did such a nice job on these.

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  12. Thanks, Karen. I appreciate that coming from you with all of your gorgeous water scenes! I do like this format a lot.

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  13. Myfirst visit to your blog. Happy I came by! the watercolours of the sail boats instantly captured my attention. like the lucid colours of the water and the reflection.nice collection of transparent water paintings. happy to join as follower!

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  14. Hi Liana, Thanks for your kind words... YOUR watercolors are amazing! My computer is down so I visit the library to keep up with everything. Hopefully it will be repaired this week. Honestly I am so flattered by your kind words.
    The Library computers aren't letting view all of the paintings for some stuuuupid reason so I am really looking forward to getting my computer back. I need to paint this week tooo before school starts and my brain fries!

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  15. Thank you, Cathy. You will never believe I found this fabulous garden that you would love. I took photos and am going to post and paint! If you saw it in person, you would think it was a wonderful secret garden. Hope your computer gets fixed and stays fixed!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave your thoughts. I love hearing from you!