Painting Château Lanquais

Hmmm - the scanned picture via photocopier and below, the digital with no flash. The colour contrast is quite interesting! I think I prefer the brighter - though it still isn't very accurate of the actual watercolour...

June 15, 2008 ~ So I finally "finished" this little watercolour! Broke all the rules in the process, overworked it, had a ball with my new toy - the masking fluid. But had a LOT of fun in the process and I believe I learned a thing or two - which is the whole point. Using watercolour is going to be a slow learning curve - but I'm willing!

Memorial Day yesterday - and a few hours to try my inexperienced hand at watercolour again. I worked from a photo of my sister, Vivienne, painting the refectory at Château Lanquais (the Dordogne) during a painting holiday we (the three of us) took two years ago. I haven't finished this yet - sort of half-way... Not quite sure how to tackle the detail of that round grassy bush in the background. I was just about to ask Cathy for advice when I looked on her blog this morning and found the same subject on her most recent post!! If you are thinking of a painting holiday, read her blog... A Holiday to remember She painted this to contribute to Adam Cope's latest project, which I mentioned in my post Art Class at East London Tech (May 21.) Anyway - back to the painting holiday idea - we highly recommend the experience!

Sketching in Bergerac

This started as a doodle really, testing a new dipping pen I bought, designed for calligraphy, with various changeable nibs. (I think my son told me it was his favourite for his graphic novel work.) I really battled to get the ink to flow consistently through the nib and ended up being very frustrated. I used a photograph from a glorious hot day in Bergerac, France - almost two years ago. My sisters and I sat on this bench along the Dordogne River and had a go at a little sketching. I started with the face on the left, when my pen was performing at its worst. (I do blame the tool... Apologies to the model, CPG! You don't look anything like that!) My NEW pen should arrive in the mail soon, along with some other supplies.

Art Class at East London Tech

It's hard to believe I drew this 12 years ago. A simple rather immature ink drawing - but for me loaded with memories and nostalgia. We had recently moved to East London (South Africa) from Portland, Oregon and my sister Hilary encouraged me to sign up for this art class - very low key and non-threatening, taught by her friend Pam. It was a happy happy time of being HOME and having a few precious hours a week to focus completely on paper, pen and subject without the interruptions of my busy family life. The old lady in the middle (background) looked just like that, if I say so myself! In fact, a chap wanted to buy my drawing when he saw it at the Students' Exhibition because he recognized the people in it. (He also taught art there.) But he never showed up wiff da maanee, and I'm glad he didn't because I had no idea how much I would enjoy looking at this so many years later! I think I'll send it on to Adam for his "Artists Drawing/Painting Artists" project... It's not often that I happen to have the appropriate picture ready to go for such an event!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

To my sisters, and any other mothers who may visit here. This is the last watercolour I have of my Mom's. It is a coral tree that stood at the entrance of the driveway of our Uncle Gordon and Auntie Guenda's house in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Guenda gave it to me the last time we visited them. My husband asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day. I really couldn't think of anything... and then I remembered this painting. I'm going to get it framed! I'm so grateful for this internet invention that allows us to share such precious treasures.

Mockingbirds #2

Have observed a few more photos and the real birds as they flash and dash in and out the tree tops. Still lots of room for improvement... The head on the right looks more like a dove. I framed this one not because I think its that great, but my friend asked me to contribute a framed picture for the house concert she and her husband hosted last week-end. A wonderful time was had by all as we listened to Nils on violin and Jenny on piano, play a beautiful selection of music, spring and love being the major themes. Araceli kindly brought a CD of the music over to me a couple of weeks ago, so I could listen to it and be inspired to paint something! Mockingbirds #2 was my contribution, along with some other artists who brought samples of their work to hang on the walls too.