One thing I am learning about watercolor, is that sometimes I must Let It Dry before doing more with it. This does not come naturally to me. But I am trying.
Here's a watercolor sketch based on one of Harry Burton's black and white images documenting Howard Carter's excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb, exactly one hundred years ago:
I did this a couple of nights ago and wanted to continue with it but if I had carried on right away, it would have turned into a muddy, scrubby mess. So, like a grown-up, like a grown-up who has made a great many muddy, scrubby messes, I put it aside to Let It Dry.
The following night, I moved on to Phase Two:
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Maybe the trick is to have two sketches going on at the same time so there is always something immediate to work on? I don't know. But Magpie's recent comment about painting made me think about Daily Markmaking. For a photographer, I sure am having fun with markmaking.
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Perhaps a hair dryer could be your friend when it comes to speeding up drying time?
ReplyDeleteAs for muddy scrubby messes - that's me, to a 't'!!!
Interesting idea, thanks! I've got a blowdryer in a drawer somewhere - might as well give it a job to do now and then.
DeleteI've taken art lessons in the past, but confess I never could get the hang of water color. I guess I didn't have the patience to learn!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I'd have the patience for lessons, either. Especially since my joints won't let me sit in a chair or stand still for more than a couple of minutes at a time. The last class I tried to take was for braiding rugs, and within the first hour I had to admit it was too painful to continue. Ironic that I now have the time in my life for all the classes I wanted to take "someday." Oh well, fortunately for me, lots of things - like markmaking - can be done in a "zero-gravity" chaise! :)
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rejani :)
DeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteI used to have a hair dryer in the studio for watercolor purposes. Never used for hair. It was good for moving paint around where a brush was too much, as well as drying.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try it :)
DeleteHow I would love to try painting! I expect though that one needs to learn to draw first. I am intrigued by the subtle changes to your painting. Really nice.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue - it's really exciting when something comes out the way I hoped it would - on purpose! But I am living proof that one does not need to be good at drawing in order to have fun painting.
DeleteThis is fascinating. Watercolor is way intimidating to me; it'll be fun to watch along as you play with it.
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
It's funny you say that, because I've always felt intimidated by watercolor, too! Glad I jumped in and started playing with it - watercolor is actually flexible full of surprises!
DeleteA beautiful example of your patience paying off! Aren't you glad you waited! I, too, lack patience and often pop into the bathroom with a painting and dry it with the blow dryer.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I never thought of that solution, especially since the comments indicate it seems to be standard procedure!
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