The Shutters in Watercolour
08th March 2023
In: Art
I often credit blogging for developing my photography. The act of posting provides a prompt to go out and take pictures, expand my photographic subjects, develop themes and a structured workflow.
Initially, I was apprehensive about sharing the results, not really knowing whether the output was any good. Gradually, I gained more confidence and reached a point where the photography was good enough for me and I now I no longer have the same doubts.
I understand, of course, that there are better photographers out there. In fact, there are many and I enjoy their work. I also know that some viewers like my work and some don’t, a truth that applies to any creative endeavour.
When it comes to art though, I am still at the doubt stage and still sensitive to any feedback. I have produced some work which I like, some of which can be seen in the art gallery on this site, but mainly I struggle for consistency with a bin full of failed attempts!
I hope that blogging will help me to organise my output, to add structure to something that feels chaotic. Ultimately, I would like to leave the beginner status behind and progress with competence and clarity. I will be interested to see how that pans out…
My starting painting for the new blog was completed in December 2022…I decided to start with one I like!
It is a watercolour and the subject is a set of old window shutters completed on Arches A3 block paper (NOT - 300lb). Thanks to Chas at Patchings for the reference picture.
The appeal of the reference was the strong colours, the greens and the cerulean blue, and the opportunity to create textures, like peeling paint. I would have certainly photographed this window if I had come across it.
The techniques used for this painting were initial washes of colour followed by dry brush work often smudging this with my finger. The final darks were important to create edges and definition to the different shapes.
I will say more about my watercolour journey in future blogs but suffice to say at this point that learning to paint with watercolour has not been easy, I don’t find it an intuitive medium and needed a lot of guided tuition to get this far.
Initially, I was apprehensive about sharing the results, not really knowing whether the output was any good. Gradually, I gained more confidence and reached a point where the photography was good enough for me and I now I no longer have the same doubts.
I understand, of course, that there are better photographers out there. In fact, there are many and I enjoy their work. I also know that some viewers like my work and some don’t, a truth that applies to any creative endeavour.
When it comes to art though, I am still at the doubt stage and still sensitive to any feedback. I have produced some work which I like, some of which can be seen in the art gallery on this site, but mainly I struggle for consistency with a bin full of failed attempts!
I hope that blogging will help me to organise my output, to add structure to something that feels chaotic. Ultimately, I would like to leave the beginner status behind and progress with competence and clarity. I will be interested to see how that pans out…
My starting painting for the new blog was completed in December 2022…I decided to start with one I like!
It is a watercolour and the subject is a set of old window shutters completed on Arches A3 block paper (NOT - 300lb). Thanks to Chas at Patchings for the reference picture.
The appeal of the reference was the strong colours, the greens and the cerulean blue, and the opportunity to create textures, like peeling paint. I would have certainly photographed this window if I had come across it.
The techniques used for this painting were initial washes of colour followed by dry brush work often smudging this with my finger. The final darks were important to create edges and definition to the different shapes.
I will say more about my watercolour journey in future blogs but suffice to say at this point that learning to paint with watercolour has not been easy, I don’t find it an intuitive medium and needed a lot of guided tuition to get this far.