Monday 20 June 2011

Big Pond

In the monthly challenge on the Painting Friends forum, we had to paint koi this month.

Year of Painting (YOP)
Number Three, Koi.


Personal Goals for this Painting:

Firstly I set some goals for my thumbnail sketches.
These were :
  1. do a thumbnail showing the scene as is
  2. on the next two thumbs, change up the techniques
  3. on the last thumbnail, keep the focal point, but be completely off the wall in the scenery
  4. Choose which one of these thumbnails to paint.

 
Choosing (3), the choices for the painting were to try to
a) use sea salt for an interesting effect


So, here's the painting: Big Pond



What works and what could be improved.

I love the effect and the fish. I honestly don't think I'd change anything.


Challenges Faced

The challenge in painting this was to leave it alone and just sit back and let the salt work.


Share Personal Goals and whether you felt you Met Them

My goals were to make the four thumbs again, pick a technique and run with it., to create a loose interpretation of koi.


How I created the Painting.

I created the painting by painting the fish first. When they were dry, I put water over the whole , touching in a few colours to make the water interesting. Then I sprinkled sea salt over the wash. Walked away and let it dry completely.
When dry, I brushed the salt off – and there was the finished painting.


Size of Painting, Medium, Palette and Brushes.


The painting is on Arches Aquarelle Rough 140lb and is quarter sheet. 15”x 11”
The medium is pencil for the under drawing and watercolour for the painting. W&N artists quality .
Palette colours used : French Ultramarine, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow
Brush: Squirrel Mop. Kolinsky number 12
Hope you've enjoyed this look into the process of making a painting :) xx
This- and all my paintings - can be viewed on my gallery site HERE
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24 comments:

  1. Judy20 June 2011 at 03:46

    Wow! Great painting! I love the salt effect, good choice!

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  2. Pat20 June 2011 at 03:48

    Thanks, Judy :) xx

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  3. Jane20 June 2011 at 05:37

    Pat, this is really beautiful, and you made it so much more interesting by creating those circles.
    Using salt isn't for sure the garantee of a good result, but in this case it really turned out well. Love it! xx

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  4. Sandra Busby20 June 2011 at 05:54

    I love the effect of the fish too. Great job Pat! I love the subject and the technique you have used too :0)

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  5. Pat20 June 2011 at 05:59

    Thanks, Jane. You are right of course, salt doesn't guarantee a good result.... but this one came out well :)

    Thanks, Sandra.
    I'm pretty happy with it :) xx

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  6. Sadami20 June 2011 at 06:38

    Hi, Pat!
    You made a masterpiece!! Salt worked very effectively. Colours and composition, all is great. Congratulations!!
    Cheers, Sadami

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  7. Pat20 June 2011 at 07:03

    Thanks, Sadami!
    So glad you like it :) xx

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  8. Conchi20 June 2011 at 09:11

    Pero que bueno todo el tutorial de como creaste tu pintura.
    Me encantó.
    Sinceramente yo no cambiaria nada de nada,los peces geniales y dan la impresión de movimiento,el agua me encanta,puedo ver como se mueven.
    Un besazo.

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  9. Teresa Palomar Lois20 June 2011 at 09:24

    It has a flow as a whole that is really appealing Pat, good work.
    Now woman, you gotta take that 4th thumb to the next level and do something supercool and surreal with it! pleasepleasepleaseplease

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  10. Studio at the Farm20 June 2011 at 09:47

    Very well-described process, Pat. Thank you.

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  11. Pat20 June 2011 at 10:28

    Thanks, Conchi. Glad you enjoyed the process, and the final painting. The water is pretty neat, eh? :) xx

    Ok, Teresa, you've said it, I shall do it! One surreal kite coming up .. :lol:

    Glad you liked it, Kathryn xx

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  12. George The Lad20 June 2011 at 10:40

    Me and mom love this one, moms into fish we have a big pond, you have done a lovely job.
    Give a kiss to Missy from us
    Have a good week
    See Yea George xxx

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  13. Anonymous20 June 2011 at 11:16

    Brilliant Pat. You see them "almost" swim. Much movement is in the picture.

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  14. Ann20 June 2011 at 15:05

    I really like it. How interesting that you used sea salt. It made for a great effect

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  15. Pat20 June 2011 at 23:47

    Cheers, George! Glad you and mum loved it - and consider Missy kissed xx

    Thanks, Renske - there is a feeling of movement, for sure :) xx

    Thanks, Ann. Salt gives a lovely effect.. one of my favourite little helpers :) xx

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  16. Unknown21 June 2011 at 00:23

    Fabulous effects and gorgeous colours, Pat! Do you keep Koi? Not my choice for a pet - prefer the more tactile critters like dogs and cats myself. I was out in Tokyo with my job ages ago and got to see the massive Koi that swim in the moat around the Imperial Palace :)

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  17. Junibears21 June 2011 at 00:40

    I love your painting Pat. It's got great movement with the fish and water swirling around. You are so creative and never afraid to do something new, I love that.
    Thank you for your visit today.
    Hugs
    June xx

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  18. Pat21 June 2011 at 01:46

    Glad you like it Michael :)
    I don't keep koi, but I do have an indoor tank - in which I keep coldwater ryukin, fantails, oranda and black moors.
    Wow - you were at the Imperial Palace? I hope you got photos!

    Thanks, June. It does have a nice feeling of movement - that's what I like to see with fish :)
    And thanks for the compliment on me trying new things :) xx

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  19. Tito21 June 2011 at 02:28

    Beautiful watercolor, Pat. I like the composition, the movement and the very nice salt effect. Congratulations!

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  20. Crystal Cook21 June 2011 at 07:48

    I agree with you Pat, I wouldn't change a think. It's gorgeous! Interesting reading your thoughts on your process and the results too. :)

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  21. sand21 June 2011 at 08:01

    Hola Pat, me encantan esos peces, reproduces tan bien su movimiento, el efecto con la sal aumenta la belleza de la imagen, es bellísima por su sencillez y colorido.

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  22. Nil Catalano21 June 2011 at 10:27

    These Koi are beautiful Pat, the fusion of brilliant colors very well done.
    I never used the technique with salt, the effect is amazing.
    A big hug

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  23. Arianna22 June 2011 at 12:41

    Very beautiful effects! Arianna

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  24. Im Zweiten Stock24 June 2011 at 22:15

    Hi Pat
    I love your fish. The effect of salt is fantastic. I've tried it once but got not so good as you did. You did it very well.
    Elsbeth

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