Lately, I have been painting with watercolor and this new piece is a work in progress, entitled “Gone To Seed”. We live across the way from a few fields that grow many different crops and sadly one of the very large fields was sold and all those beautiful artichokes were just left without being harvested.
Stay tuned for the completed painting 🎨. Take care, be safe and please pray for all those trapped in Afghanistan along with those who have already given their lives to save them.
Sometimes the most simple of things to do just get set aside and for me, getting a post out now and then falls by the wayside.
I began painting with watercolors in high school and it has remained a favorite all these years. I bounce around from subject to subject but am now pursuing the desert theme and will paint it in both oil and watercolors.
Does watercolor painting intimidate you? If it does, don’t let it. I have worked on lightweight individual watercolor paper, 300lb. cold press paper, watercolor blocks, sketchbooks and illustration board. Watercolor blocks can be pricey but it allows you to get the paper really wet without buckling. For this current painting, I cut my sheet of 300lb. Fabriano cold press watercolor paper and after drawing my sketch, started with the large background wash. In the past I have used Crescent 300lb watercolor sheets which seemed thinker and of course, I was quickly disappointed and frustrated with the amount of “buckle” that was happening in this 300lb paper so I decided to wet it down then use regular staples and stapled it to my drawing board wet. In order to get the buckle out, before stapling it down, I got clean water and a wide watercolor brush and soaked the back of the painting. Then I did the same on the front of my painting taking care to start from the top, moving side to side without “scrubbing” the color away. Since it was so early in the layering of color, there wasn’t any color bleeding with this process. Once that was complete, I immediately stapled the painting to my drawing board.
Even with the staples, the paper buckled so I let it dry just a bit longer and put a piece of glass from an old end table to hold the painting down while it finished drying. You can use heavy books as well, just make sure the painting is not too wet when putting the books on it and leave it for a few hours. I added several washes later to the background so with each wash, I did the same procedure. I am sure the staples would have eliminated the buckling but I didn’t want to take a chance. When I completed the painting, the staples lifted out easily and although there are marks from the staples, matting the painting will cover it up with no problem.
It’s fun to experiment with paint and I would encourage anyone to paint with watercolors since it is so clean, requires very little space and is portable.
Here’s the final desert painting of a fallen Palo Verde tree. 15” x 22” watercolor on Fabriano 300lb. Sheet
More watercolor painting tips to come, so until next time, happy painting 🎨
“Golden Hour In Santa Barbara”🎨
What is your favorite place to spend time at? For me, just about any beautiful place outdoors, especially when the light is picture perfect like this scene in Santa Barbara, CA.
I always love setting up a blank canvas to begin a new painting, along with the challenge and satisfaction each new project brings. Now that we are on Day 2 of 2021, I am looking forward to the wonderful new possibilities of this coming year… new moments shared with family and friends, new experiences and yes, the opportunity to be creative.
Looking back over last year, I am so glad to have had the opportunity to paint and be creative, as well as get together with close friends and family – even with this pandemic. I am appreciative of the many positive comments and support this blog has brought and I hope that all who read my blog and have seen my work are able to enjoy a happy “moment time”.
Here is a 9 painting sampling from 2020
No matter your location or hobby you enjoy, I pray 2021 brings you good health and happy times.
Cheers, Yolande
12” x 16” on watercolor paper
It’s been awhile since I have done mixed media and it was fun to work on this Saguaro Cactus using graphite pencil and watercolor.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas filled with joy and are able to be with family and friends. 🎄
Some scenes just make me smile. I have always loved the youthful honesty and energy of young children and although this scene was taken quite a few years back, the joy and happiness in my daughter’s face led me to finally get this painting done.🎨
Current Show in Newbury Park, CA
On display now in the Thousand Oaks Art Association Members Show. Come on by if you’re in the area.
Website for my available paintings: yolandemcaleveyart.com
