With the addition of a fine round 00 watercolor brush and Titanium White by Winsor & Newton I was able to represent the fine detail of the feathers on these Mountain Bluebirds.
Mountain Bluebird watercolor
Mountain Bluebird watercolor
February ACEOs - watercolor hearts, hearts and more hearts!
I am using some new watercolor paints with these ACEOs, ‘Daniel Smith Jean Haines’ master artist set’. A few tubes are especially nice, the Green Apatite Genuine lets you create a beautiful range of greens – fresh yellow-green to deep olive – within a single tube, just great for leaves and nests. The Moonglow has a three-pigment blend that is just amazing when you add water. The imperial Purple according to Daniel Smith is “Rich in texture, and highly saturated, will granulate to reveal shades of plum and ultramarine.” These professional level watercolors are so satisfying to work with.
Found on eBay
More ACEO art cards
These small paintings are a great way to practice watercolor technique. Adding just a touch of pen and ink to bring out detail. Hummingbirds are still one of my favorite subjects.
Hummingbirds and Lilacs
Set of ACEO cards with hummingbirds and lilacs painted in watercolor and highlighted with pen & ink.
size- 2.5” x 3.5” original art
Watercolor instruction
Several artists who have YouTube channels have been helpful to me in learning further how to watercolor. Pen and Ink has been my medium of choice through my artist life but the pull of color has been coming along for a few years now. I recently found Louise De Masi a watercolor artist from Australia whose tutorials are a lot of fun and very helpful. This is one of my recent paintings combining watercolor and pen & ink.
The artists' way of seeing-
“Many artists have spoken of seeing things differently while drawing and have often mentioned that drawing puts them into a somewhat altered state of awareness. In that different subjective state, artists speak of feeling transported, “at one with the work” , able to grasp relationships that they ordinarily cannot grasp. Awareness of the passage of time fades away, and words recede from consciousness. Artist say that they feel alert and aware yet are relaxed and free of anxiety, experiencing a pleasurable, almost mystical activation of the mind.”
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards
Hedgehog ACEO artist trading card
Hummingbird sitting on an ocotillo branch
We are similarly sitting among a sharp potentially deadly enemy - may God have mercy on us!
Waiting, watching and working
Waiting for this coronavirus to run its course, watching the world handle it and keeping busy working on some watercolor paintings. . .
Hummingbird ACEO
I am a watercolor learner. This medium is so different than working with pen and ink, but I like the wonderful flow of the paint.
Available in my eBay store.
Making some new ACEO artist cards
Passing time during these dark days making some miniature original watercolor pieces. ACEO artist cards 2.5” x 3.5” available in my eBay shop.
ACEO watercolor paintings using new color in my palette
I recently added Olive Green by Winsor and Newton to my watercolor palette. These ACEO paintings of nestling hummingbirds are a sampling of this great new color.
Creating ACEO art cards
Practicing watercolor and pen & ink combination technique with little ACEO art cards lately.
What is an ACEO? ACEO means “Art Cards Editions and Originals”. These are miniature original works of art measuring 2.5” x 3.5”. Many artist are creating and selling them online and collectors are happy to have an affordable way to obtain original art.
I sell these on eBay. Here’s a look at a few from June and July:
Harris Hawk in pen & ink and watercolor
“I believe there are few people with true talent - talent, for most of us, is developed by effort, desire, tenacity and discipline.”
Joe Garcia - Mastering the Watercolor Wash
Watercolor and pen & ink
Make sure you have a good strong reference photo
make a tight well drawn sketch before painting
colors have to be right, practice with your paint and learn what it can do
train yourself to see not just look at your subject
