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| Shells ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis 8×10 Watercolor on Arches paper |
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| Sunflower Petals ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis 8×10 Watercolor on Arches paper |
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| Rocks ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis 8×10 Watercolor on Strathmore paper |
One day last week I was determined to keep at the painting schedule. Twenty minutes per painting and if I pushed myself I could do a few, one after another. Inspiration was running low, the shells and pebbles have been painted over and over, no new sunflowers around either. But after my artist date I had a bit of motivation so I gathered my stuff and went at it.
Shells, rocks, pebbles were thrown on my table and I just painted what I saw. Next! I decided to crop one of the sunflower photos are paint that view. Great! Then I went for an even quicker sketch of the shells and pebbles. I used paper that I had cut from larger sheets to make these smaller works, not realizing amid the Arches papers was a student grade of paper from a long while ago.
As I began sketching the last painting, as has become my style, the paint beaded up on the paper. The paper seemed to resist the watery paint. I had a hard time with that, and worked harder than I had been doing lately. Twenty minutes and I was not happy with the process of that last painting. Nope.
The moral of the story is to make sure to use quality equipment whenever possible. Taking short cuts is just not worth the trouble. I’ll be careful of that at the next session.
beautiful work and very true, quality supples do help
Paper makes such a difference…. can only suggest you keep the other stuff in a separate draw. Love all the sketches you’ve done, though 🙂 xx
Thanks Laurie. It’s true that when you know better, you do better.
Pat, I have you to thank for the watercolor paper education! A while ago you suggested I try Arches paper and you were right. Since I’m on this watercolor journey I may as well use the right tools for success.