A few things I've been meaning to post. This is the colour version of a sketch I did a while ago. I felt at the time both the drawings lacked colour but now I've added it, it's not as I imagined - in time I'm hoping to make my watercolours look fresher, less controlled than this. I coloured it partly from memory (those leaves had long since died) and partly from a cutting so the result is not too good - I realised too late I had painted light coming from different directions!
Some Sunday sketches. This Honeysuckle is done in watercolour pencils on cartridge paper. I was going to spritz it with water to see what happened but changed my mind, thought it best to leave well enough alone!
I'd never tried this before, adding watercolour to a pencil sketch on light cartridge paper, but it was interesting. The colours look quite dull, almost like an old Victorian illustration, and I was surprised that the paper didn't buckle. I'm in two minds about how it turned out but it was enjoyable to do.
All were drawn outdoors apart from the top drawing and as it was a hot day I found it quite difficult with the heat and the glare on the paper, even though I was sitting in the shade. Although I take lots of photos of plants, there is no substitute for painting from life. That too can be challenging when the petals are either opening or closing for the day as these Whirligigs were!
Line drawings of the different Passiflora leaves.
Finally a doodle in watercolour using the Masquepen. I don't normally post doodles but they seem to be going better than my other efforts at the moment!
20 comments:
I love these, but I can see they don't have what we typically call fresh color. However, to me, that's their charm. They look more real and endearing, and have a summer feel to them.They aren't bright, but more enduring, as if they're sticking it out and surviving the summer, being beautiful in the own way. I'm probably not explaining what I see well. Your flowers have a real botanist's look, and a bit of the Beatrix Potter feel. I agree, wet in wet would be nice, but if I were doing it,I'd not try to alter this, but do a separate one.
Anyway, they have brightened my day, so thank you!
WOW!! Felicity -- these are wonderful!! They have a very botanical painting feel to them, exacting, details, with lovely lovely soft washes on them to bring the color to bear. Your fine linework forms the foundation for these beauties ... I LOVE THEm!
Very nice 'doodles', Felicity. I think these are wonderful and I like the combination of pencil and watercolour. To me, that little bit of dullness adds to the sponteneity of the drawing. It's just a little less technical looking than with pen. (But I also like pen and wash, too.)
I've just been to your other blog and the difference in the same drawings with a black background is amazing. On this blog they have a tranquil feel and on the other (with the black) they are vibrant.
I prefer the white background.
This gives it gallery lighting style.
You know how you buy a painting and it never looks as good when you get it home?
Lighting is all.
Only you get to see your work as it is rather than how it appears in a scan or a photograph.
As I see them, I would love them all.
All I have to decide is whether because it's your own work, you nit pick or whether it really is what you 'think' you see.
Thanks Ashleigh!
Thanks lin, I tried not to do too much with colour to start with. I'm trying to balance the lines and the colour so I'm really pleased to hear your comments!
Bonny thanks! I quite liked the dullness too although at the time that wasn't my intention!
Sally, I'm interested to hear what you think of the two backgrounds. In general I prefer the black but now you've put it that way...!
I think we all nit pick our own work because we have an idea (or I do anyway) of what the end result should be and it rarely matches. I'm keeping more of an open mind about watercolours as I don't have the skill to manipulate them as I wish just yet. Still, I'm finding it hard not to overwork!
Your colour work seems to me to be getting more free and relaxed. I like what you are doing with the plants and flowers around you, and particularly like the way I get a sense of the weight of the flower.
It takes such a long time to feel confident about one's skills - if ever - but it can be such an enjoyable journey. I hope you keep having fun.
All beautifully observed . I keep looking that the whirligig petals on that flower in my garden, you have drawn it so well.
Thanks so much for your comments about my children, I do love them to pieces!
I SO love the sketches you have been doing in color, a side I hadn't seen of your work before and the photos of the flowers are just beautiful. What kind of camera do you use and do you use a zoom lens?
Felicity, I like these so much, especially the leaves with their little curly-cues. It is so full of life and the composition just sings. You're doing wonderful things with color. It's really exciting to see!
I think these are brill Felicity. I especially like the first one of leaves (is it a passiflora?) Very delicate. I know what you mean about splodgy wet in wet watercolours, but I can't offer any suggestions (again!) except, perhaps, painting the shapes with plain water and then just gently dropping in the colours and letting them run together. The urge to fiddle and have defined edges is overwhelming for me and I couldn't ever quite "let go" enough to be a successful splodger but I'm sure it's just a matter of practise and finding out your own style. Anyway, I think these are fabulous.
ps. could I tag you please for 5 gardening facts about yourself? I looked at Dijannes blog just now and found I'd been tagged,and need to find other people, but it's quite hard to find anyone who might like gardening - I think you might though! Don't if you don't want to though.
Such a beautiful collection. I'm really impressed by the fact you colored in the top one without looking at it. I don't notice the light being off whatsoever.
This really showcases a beautiful variety of plants and styles.
Felicity, I really like these -- especially the honeysuckle that you decided NOT to add water to. As Lin says, they look like a very traditional botanical painting.
Lovely! Adding color to your beautiful lines and shading...this is fun to see!
I envy you so much. I'm trying to draw again, but i have never studied, so I don't have technic AT ALL.
My latest innovations will be posted on the 16th of august, which is less cartoonish an A LITTLE bit more real. Let's see how it goes. I enjoy navigating throw your blog... nice stuff!
I love your botanicals - you already have a distinct style; they look just like botanical illustrations out of a book! A looser or wet-in-wet look would make them less of botanical illustrations and more of floral paintings; either is nice!
Hi. My name is Lara Berch. I have just launched a new website with step by step art tutorials. I was wondering if it's possible to exchange links with you. http://www.laraberch.com
Thank you very much for your time.
Sincerely
Lara
Felicity. thanks for stopping by my blog and agreeing to exchange links and expressing an opinion on the black square :-) I have linked to you on my site http://www.laraberch.com in the resources section. Thanks in advance for a link back:-)
sincerely
Lara
I really respond to the colors here. They're really subtle, they do seem to have an 'antique-y' feel to them that I really admire! Thanks for your kind comment on my blog too!
Color does add so much. My favorite is the first one. But they are all beautiful botanicals!
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