Coffee And Paint Drips Blog - Page 29 of 79

Painting Photos for Friday

Here I am again with photos of paintings for Friday. Somehow my idea of a fun pic for the end of the week ended up being a finished watercolor painting, but, hey, that’s okay. I’m enjoying myself in the studio at least. To me it’s a fun photo.

Blueberries ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
15×20 Watercolor, Canson cold press paper

The latest work is finished. Done. I am done with IT. That might be the last time I paint a million little blueberries under tiny leaves of lavender. The last time. Remember I said that.

Let’s look over the process. First I sketched in the basic shapes. Then I dropped some color in areas.

Next painting session lead to more color and definition of forms. Little by little it started to look like something.

With more color I started adding shadows to further develop the composition. Having fun here too.

The 100 Paintings Challenge has begun.

Thought for Thursday

“You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back.” – William D. Tammeus

A Welcome Back to 100 Paintings

I did it again. I re-upped for the 100 Paintings Challenge. Will I make it? I don’t know for sure, but with my new plan and schedule in place I am well armed. So far I am making headway and have plunged in with both feet. I’m using a swimming/diving analogy and I’m not any kind of good swimmer, but it’s how I feel.

This week is my first back in the challenge. Laure Ferlita, the facilitator of 100 Paintings Challenge posted a Welcome Back interview we had on the blog.

Something about the challenge appeals to me. The opportunity to build a steady painting schedule and a strong, consistent body of work is something I need. The accountability is there. I know I signed onto something that others are waiting to see.

The classes I’ve been taking, in person and online, with Alyson B. Stanfield have been a huge factor in my growth as an artist. She suggests we do certain tasks, and I just do it. I feel great about what I have accomplished with her advice and I’m moving forward.

Thought for Thursday

“People say, ‘I love your work, it’s so detailed.’ But that’s like saying, ‘I love your sweater, it has lots of stitches.'” Robert Bateman

Humming Along on the Next Painting, Wow

Next up!

As I await my new invitation to participate in the 100 Paintings Challenge, and the next online course Cultivate Collectors to begin, I started another work. Gee, I am humming along, aren’t I?

When I took all those photographs of my veggie haul I wasn’t thrilled with most of them. I even had a few I didn’t bother printing out. This photo was one of those I had no intention of painting from. Well, lookie here. Guess I was wrong.

Finally using my brain, I sketched this out over the weekend to be prepared for the sessions to begin during the week. Smart cookie.

I was so excited to paint that I thought about it before I fell asleep, each time I woke during the night (which was alot) and it was the first thing when I got up to start my day. It’s great to have that motivation going.

The plan of attack was running in my head. Where was I going to start? How would I treat the areas that seemed to flow together? Which colors was I mixing to give the work the feeling I was after?

Plenty of questions, and I hope I have some good answers.

While my granddaughter napped, I ran to the studio and put down some color. I thought I might try to keep a light hand on this one. I’m not sure where it’s going to go, but it’s a beginning.

One Down, the Next is Coming up!

Bountiful ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
15×20 Watercolor, Canson 140lb cold press paper

This painting is finished. I may have to take another photograph as I think it could look a little better. The light seems to have washed out some color on the left side. I’ll try it again another day. Right now I am thrilled it’s done.

Moving along now onto the next work. Something is clicking and keeping me in it. Who knows what tomorrow will be like. For right now I have plans. I have ideas. I have supplies. I have references for work. I think I can feel a series coming on. And it feels really good.

The Blast Off class is over, but the learning continues on. This week I will be working in another class with Alyson B. Stanfield called Cultivate Collectors. I like the word “cultivate.” It reminds me of things that are growing.

Things are growing alright.

Photo of Painting for Friday

Moving right along

And we’re off! I had the day, the time, the motivation, the set up, and the materials! Yay for me!

You know, sometimes you get those days that just click, things happen, mostly the right things. As the day opened up I decided to pull out my new plan and schedule from the Blast Off class and keep going.

I felt good after hearing that another artist uses their morning for house/errands and the afternoon for painting, the evenings for family/whatever. I liked that. I’m a morning person anyway, but I don’t necessarily need to paint at that time. If things need doing I can comply in the A.M. and have the house neat so my brain is clear to paint in the P.M.

Perfect!

I ran my errands, visited the art supply shop and purchased the largest Arches watercolor block made, on sale! I added to my brush collection, also on sale. I picked up a tube of Holbein. You said it, on sale. I asked about oil painting mediums for the future. Then I ran home.

After lunch, on schedule, I went to the studio to keep working on this latest painting. I thought about it all night and painted it in my head. I knew what I wanted to do when I came to the studio.

Things are looking up.

Thought for Thursday

“You should keep on painting no matter how difficult it is…..unless it kills you, and then you know you have gone too far.” Alice Neel