A Touch of Turquoise : Winsor & Newton Watercolours

A "Touch of Turquoise" adding drama to an "elephant" in  watercolour

I read a wonderful email from an artist who loves my work, explaining one of the reasons why is because they "expect the unexpeced" from me. A lovely compliment.  I do love to opt for  the unexpected way of painting favourite subjects and I constantly search for something new in my approach.  Although, sometimes, I do re-visit past techniques as if  I am visiting old friends.

Readers of my first book " How to Paint Colour and Light in Watercolours" may remember my painting of elephants with a touch of turquoise on a mainly  warm golden backdrop. The stunning blue added impact and drama. It is a fantastic technique to add a touch of the unexpected to a familar subject. I opt for strong contrasts when using this technique and it always  works for me.

I have Spring exhibitions coming up so I am currently painting a new watercolour collection. I have been incredibly inspired by the latest chapters of my new book that I am loving working on. I also have my annual " Beating the Blues" workshop next month which is always one of my most exciting and challenging. I am already excited at the thought of what is to come in February. What a great way to feel at the start of the year!

If you are looking for an exciting turquoise shade to experiment with I highly recommend "Cobalt Turquoise Light " by Winsor & Newton. It is a superb pigment that works fabulously on so many subjects. Definitely a  "must have " shade for your palette!

Copies of my first book are available on Amazon.com and from leading art book stockists.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colour-Light-Water-How-Paint/dp/1844484882

Cadmium Yellow Day

 

Cadmium Yellow

Adding sunshine on a rainy Day

The rain is  continuing in England. The skies are grey and gloomy and even my dog, Bailey, is less than enthusiastic about going out for a walk.

Today I have opted for painting vibrantly sunny scenes from warmer climates. Figures in bright clothes walking in bustling market scenes have caught my imagination. I have almost heard the music from drums and witnessed dancing ladies swaying with swirling skirts. I have even managed to include ladies balancing baskets on their  heads to larger compositions

In my mind I have been anywhere other than this cool,wet country of mine!

The small face study above was created with W&N Peryelene Maroon,Cadmium Orange and then literally drenched in Cadmium Yellow to one side of the face to draw the head dress into my subject completely.

My studio is  full of energy,life and bright colours.

 In fact Ihave successfuly chased all rain and gloom from my mind via my brushes!

This has to be one of the best advantages of being an artist.You can go where you like,when you want to and how you wish!

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Carnations in Watercolour

Carnations in a  Watercolour Composition

Winsor and Newton Alizarin Crimson,Cadmium Yellow, French Ultramarine Blue  and a tiny touch of Perylene Maroon for the inner shadow work.

Artists Tip: I use Winsor and Newton Watercolours because their formulation is perfect  for my layering technique.

I have had a delightful studio day.The treasures I found at the florist in the village yesterday afternoon have been an endless source of motivation to keep moving my brushes before the pretty flowers wilt and die. I see painting floral compositions from life very much like painting moving subjects outside. You really do have to be quick to catch the light, shadows and freshness of each blossom before they begin to lose their form. I could never paint anything like this from a photograph and eagerly urge new artists to forget learning from images. Working from life is a far more exciting way to paint!

Working without a preliminary sketch leads me to so many possibilities. I can add flowers and buds as I feel my painting needs them during the creative process.This painting looks fabulous in real life but I may add more detail to the disappearing flowers on the right hand side.

I have no less than four paintings of carnations on the go. Each very unique and it is hard to  choose a favourite piece at the moment. The really abstract one is looking very intriguing.

Of course,as always, there is a favourite section within my main painting. I love how the petals here were delghtful to paint, falling in different directions within the main centre of this flower.

Gorgeous close up of one particularly beautiful flower within the main painting.

There is a section in my new book on this technique describing how to paint hollyhocks and  carnations.But this technique also lends itself to Camelia ,Rhodedendron and many other flowers.

It is going to be a great floral year!

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