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April 05, 2006

Needs Practice

In a fit of optimism and wild excitement, I got out my new Dr. Martin's vibrant watercolors and put them to work. Of course, I started out on the brussels sprouts, which was my new favorite, and was slated to become the next promo postcard. Boys and girls, never ever ever try out something new on something old that you love. It's not that I ruined it, it's just that the stuff doesn't move around the same way that my gouaches do, and I felt like I was stubbing my toes every time I put my brush down.



I'm not sure if I'm just not used to the vibrant color, or if I don't like it because, in spite of all the in-your-faceness of my drawing style, I'm fond of subtlety. Either way, I don't dig the outcome that much on this one. Maybe I just need to get used to it. Frankly, I just need more practice before I give up. I'm just so darn impatient. I want to be an expert like right now. (There is a huge oil drum up in Alaska that the neighbors use to fuel up their big rigs, and on the side of it, someone painted in big white letters, "TIRE SERVICE FIXED LIKE RIGHT NOW" which for some reason makes me giggle inside).

And this one, below, is a little scary bright. Matthew doesn't mind the brightness, though. I don't think I messed it up as badly as the brussel sprouts but I wish my transitions were a little bit less abrupt.


I'm learning that with these, more water doesn't equal less bright. I'm looking for just the right red, too, I'm such a red fiend. I like orangey reds, not pinky reds. All of the reds have mysterious names, like alpine rose, sunset red, moss rose, and tahiti red. So I'm going to have to do some color identifying before I embark on any more actual painting. Any art person is probably horrified that I haven't already done that. Oh well.

Posted by ribbu at April 5, 2006 09:19 AM

Comments

Horrified. Are you mixing them at all? I know you want brightness, that is what they are made for, but throwing some together should calm them down a bit.

I am surprised that you are still doing the dailies. Good for you!

Posted by: Steve at April 6, 2006 10:25 PM

Hey Steve -
I am just as surprised that I am still doing the dailies. Although, I'm lagging a little bit. The sending-out part of the dailies has become more burdensome than the actual making of the dailies. But I will try to persist.

Thanks for the mixing recommendation. I know, in my heart, that it is the right thing to do, to mix my paints, but damn it if I don't like the convenience of getting my colors straight out of the bottle. I've taken laziness to a whole new level.

Hooray for me!

Posted by: ribbu at April 10, 2006 02:25 PM

I really like the hand. To be honest the transitions don't seem THAT abrupt. To my very untrained eye it looks cool.

Posted by: devo at April 16, 2006 05:16 AM