Watercolours With Life: Bigger is better! Sunflowers 2016

Sunday 14 August 2016

Bigger is better! Sunflowers 2016

New sunflower first wash

Inspired by my last blog post I grabbed a large piece of paper and decided to create a first wash for another sunflower painting. I kept the freedom and spontaneity alive from my previous Sunday challenge quick study painting and enjoyed repeating it with the same colours. But this time I added hints of green foliage underneath the sunflower.

Painting on large paper really helps me loosen up. I also find it more fun to stand whilst working as I can then move and use my whole arm to create energetic brushwork. This leaves my washes full of life rather than them coming across as "wooden".

I am capturing sunlight in this piece by leaving a lot of the paper white. I have also deliberately not tamed the runs of water or pigment, as these could create folded or smaller petals within the main flower.

Working this way is so exciting. I would like three washes to work on later so I have one more to go. This is only my second and each should get better as I take what I like from each painting to put into teh next new one. My next sunflower painting will be on a clean, new, large piece of paper as I love what has happened so far in my painting session today.

Its' time to get more serious!

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Artist Tips:

1) Work on large paper sometimes. Small pieces of paper can restrict your movement and flow as you have no space for colours to move across freely on small scraps.

2) Consider how you hold your brush and where. Hold it at the furthest end of the handle and move the whole brush freely to gain great effects.

3) Let wash work dry completely before adding detail.

4) Take a lot of time looking at washes before you add your next brushwork . Take time to see where it is needed.

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1 comment:

Nellpaints said...: Ok, you have convinced me....paint on a larger piece of paper! Having more than one painting to work on ....fantastic idea....that way I have another to work on while that is drying. Also, don't have to think...What should I paint? Love your paintings and oh so beautiful play of colors!! Thank you for all the tips and hints!!; 14 August 2016 at 08:26

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The Artist Magazine : Book Review

Jean Haines' Atmospheric Watercolours

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"Amazing Ways With Watercolour" from Town House Films is the fastest selling DVD with the company to date! Record breaking pre-orders for this much awaited film saw requests for copies flooding in from all over the world. A wonderful introduction into working with watercolour minus the use of a preliminary sketch this DVD removes the fear, stress or pressure from worry about how to use watercolour. Instead the focus is on having fun, enjoying vibrant colour combinations and allowing the medium to create the subjects with just a little help from the artist. A really exciting new DVD to own. Whilst the DVD sold out in the first few months since its' release due to popularity it is now in stock and available directly from Town House Films.

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"How to Paint Colour and Light in Watercolour" Jeans first book was launched at the Mall Galleries in 2010 at the SWA Society for Women Artists Annual Exhibition. Many copies have been sold world wide. It is available on Amazon.com, Search Press, SAA Society for All Artists and Ken Bromley.

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