Pears Two

Here in this first picture, you can see I have propped my drawing board up - on the sink.
This is important, because if you use pouring as a technique, it is going to be messy!
And as I am the one who clears up after myself - I try to make life easy.

I wet two thirds of the paper from left to right and poured my colour on, so it runs down the page, like so.


Then I pour my second and third colours on, so I have some contrast in my background to these pears. I haven't said which colours, but you can see roughly which - this way, if you are tempted to play along, you can use whatever you have in your palette and not be worried about having the "right" colour.


Here is what the painting looks like the right way up once it has dried - and before I do any more to it.
If you leave your painting to dry on the board, make sure the bottom of the board is dry. I had to wipe mine down with kitchen paper.



and here is how messy the kitchen sink got! So this is why I say use the sink - easiest place to clean up from afterwards.

An experiment with Pears

I'm having an experiment with pears. which also involves some masking and some pouring.

Come along with me and enjoy the fun of playing with paint !

In this first stage, I make a drawing of some pears. Thanks to Tricia from Painting Friends for the photo. I like odd numbers in a painting, they seem to sit better for me than two.

Once the drawing is made, I took my trusty water sprayer ( recycled as you can see) and wet the paper completely.



After that, I put some blobs of masking fluid on the paper in a random fashion , got down to paper level and squirted the masking fluid with my sprayer so that it moved around the paper. This is the result.


I found out afterwards, that using the sprayer to move the masking fluid was a mistake! The spray was so powerful it blew fluid into the valleys of my rough paper. If you do want to try this, only use the sprayer to wet the paper. You'll see why later.

Thrilled!

My art club started up again this week after a two month holiday.

During that time, I had been painting and experimenting, using North light's Big Book of Painting Watercolour Flowers for inspiration, and some non flower photos too :)

Whilst the tutor did his tour of the class, he came to me and asked how much I had painted during the holiday?
I had printed out little postcard versions of the 16 paintings I had made.

He looked through each one and then told me it was a fine body of work - and he could really see where I'd improved over the summer.
here is a small selection:





I was thrilled that he commented on my improvement. Just as I am thrilled to read your comments when you make them.
So thanks to all of you who take the time to comment . I do appreciate it.

Desi

here he is - the finished Desi.




I can only hope this humble painting can bring as much comfort to Barbi, as she has brought to so many dogs in need.

It will be added to my permanent gallery site, Pat Elliott Paintings, as a lasting tribute.

Desi IV

I loved Desi's ears - so expressive, so adorable.
They were next to be painted, along with a little shadow.

Tomorrow you will see the finished painting.

Desi III

Desi was a tricolour jack.
That means he had white, black and tan colouring.
A beautiful boy.

For the painters amongst my followers, the tan is burnt sienna.

Desi II

Eyes and nose. You knew that's where I'd start, didn't you?

Did you know though, that each time I paint a dog, I sing to them softly?
My painting is so much better when I feel a connection .

This time I was singing to Desi.. " the charm about you, will carry me through.. to Heaven. I'm in Heaven"

A happy song for a happy little dog..