More geraniums!
Susie Short's Watercolor Journal - Spashes & Splatters of what's on my drawing board (or painting easel), paintings in progress, travels in pursuit of more painting possibilities. Previews and reports on watercolor workshops and upcoming watercolor DVDs.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Painting Geraniums - March 2009
My Tuesday Afternoon Watercolor Class will be painting geraniums during the month of March. Shown is an example of what happened on my paper last week. The blooms were painted freehand without drawing them first. And then I added the leaves... and they weren't drawn first either! Focus was placed on seeing and painting the shapes. Not only are we learning the anatomy of this pretty flower we are also learning how to use a variety of reds to create drama and interest and how to mix a bunch of luscious greens. This week we will try painting geraniums as potted plants. Come back to see the results!
Upcoming Seattle Class- Butterflies,Dragonflies, & Bees
BUTTERFLIES, DRAGONFLIES, & BEES
Seattle Watercolor Class @ Daniel Smith Classroom
March 20, 2009 10:00am - 3:30pm $55 pia - $60 atd
Call Susie to Register 253-859-1111
Register Online
Monday, February 23, 2009
A Rose for Lenora
I always think of February as a time for roses. I guess it could be that Valentine's Day is on the 14th. Here in the Pacific Northwest (where I live) roses still have a few months to wait before the sun comes out to give them the exposure they need to bloom. But I do love roses and I love to paint them.
This pretty pink rosebud was painted for Lenora, my SWAP partner. SWAP stands for Sharing With Artist Partners, an international group of artists who share their watercolors with each other quarterly.
I was pleased with the results of this 5x7 painting. As with most of my watercolors, I prefer to paint without a drawing and work out the shapes with my paintbrush as I paint. For this painting I started with the background. I wanted a cooler background so I could play up the warm backlit leaves in the foreground. I used a mixture of Ultramarine Turquoise and New Gamboge for the green background color charged with Carbazole Violet for the darks around and behind the rosebud.
About the rain drops… There are several prestigious rose gardens in the Seattle area. Last year I planned several “outings” to photograph roses and when the day arrived it was raining again and again….yep…that’s Seattle! So after 3 tries I went anyway. Got my umbrella out to protect my camera and came home with a ton of Raindrops on Roses photos.
Let me know if you like this one.
This pretty pink rosebud was painted for Lenora, my SWAP partner. SWAP stands for Sharing With Artist Partners, an international group of artists who share their watercolors with each other quarterly.
I was pleased with the results of this 5x7 painting. As with most of my watercolors, I prefer to paint without a drawing and work out the shapes with my paintbrush as I paint. For this painting I started with the background. I wanted a cooler background so I could play up the warm backlit leaves in the foreground. I used a mixture of Ultramarine Turquoise and New Gamboge for the green background color charged with Carbazole Violet for the darks around and behind the rosebud.
About the rain drops… There are several prestigious rose gardens in the Seattle area. Last year I planned several “outings” to photograph roses and when the day arrived it was raining again and again….yep…that’s Seattle! So after 3 tries I went anyway. Got my umbrella out to protect my camera and came home with a ton of Raindrops on Roses photos.
Let me know if you like this one.
SUSIE
Friday, January 16, 2009
Watercolor Workshop's Artist of the Year
Each January Susie Short's Watercolor Workshop an International eMail Group (hosted by Yahoo! Groups) honors a member artist as their Artist of the Year. This year's deserving recepient is Doris Glovier a talented artist from the east coast of the United States.
Voting members consider the following criteria for the Artist of the Year award:
- The member is interactive in WcW projects and our message board;
- Offers encouragement to others;
- Inspires others with their own watercolor efforts;
- Exhibits growth in their watercolor skills and abilities throughout the past year.
Congratulations Doris!
To see artwork by this outstanding artist:
Sunday, January 11, 2009
January is for Pinecones
Happy New Year!
My Tuesday Watercolor Class for Serious Beginners will be foucsing on painting pinecones during the month of January. We will be painting the same subject using several different techniques each week to hone our watercolor skills.
This is an example of starting with a wet in wet background then adding detail and definition with value and contrast. Although this is a simple work in progress I think you can tell they are pinecones and see where I might "pull" some more from the fuzzy background.
This is an example of starting with a wet in wet background then adding detail and definition with value and contrast. Although this is a simple work in progress I think you can tell they are pinecones and see where I might "pull" some more from the fuzzy background.
If you live in the area and want to practice your watercolor skills --- join us!
Keep those brushes wet!
SUSIE
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Happy Christmas Eve Ya'll!
T'was the day before Christmas ....I just had to share this photo of Casey and Rocky, my two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. They have loved playing in the snow this week and getting them to pose for the camera is a major accomplishment.
Commands like ..."sit" "stay" "wait" go in one ear and out the other.
What worked? Showing them a bag of "Beggin Strips" doggy treats did the trick!
Happy Christmas Eve Ya'll!
SUSIE
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