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| This one was done right after I did all the color tests in my journal...I had an old Shaffer calligraphy pen in my purse and added the color from memory, which often works better for me. Fresher color! |
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| Down in the Ozarks this past week, I knew I'd have a REAL challenge, with all the fall colors. This one was done on the spot... |
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| My new walker gave me a place to carry all my art supplies and my camera, as well as a place to sit while I worked, but I found I did need a separate table of some sort. The arm rests really kind of got in the way if I tried to sit and work in my lap, and my journal tended to slide off my knees onto the ground. So I'd usually park near a bench... |
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| The same day, as evening came on...I wasn't really happy with the one on the left, the darker colors got muddy on me and the brights were TOO bright. The sun was going down behind this big hill, so I wanted the shadowy effect, but think I should have kept it cooler and grayer... |
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| Still, it was fun to try to capture the effect of fire in this small sketch that was on one corner of a journal page... |
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| I kept it simple with this one...and liked the effect. |
Did I stick
completely to my primaries-only plus Burnt Sienna and Payne's Grey palette? Nope, occasionally I just wanted the colors and textures offered by my original set. I LOVE granulating colors, and the simple set doesn't offer that.
I also found myself reaching for my original little Altoids kit with the primaries instead of the newer kit...but basically it's the same primaries, a warm yellow, Quin Red, and Phthalo Blue, plus B.S. and P.G. It's light and handy and slips into my purse.
I'm enjoying the challenge, but don't consider myself tied...it's a choice, not a geas!
Enjoying the post and your little adventures, all of them juicy and exiting.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely, Cathy. I real like the second one and the freeshness of everyone.
ReplyDeleteYour trees are amazing I will have to watch and learn.
ReplyDeleteI always love seeing your sketches Kate. Where in the Ozarks were you? We just returned from a short stay at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas, where they also have nice CCC cabins.
ReplyDeleteAll together wonderful. So love the freshness of your work!
ReplyDeleteKate- We are all headed in the direction of the walker...I hope you realize there is a great niche market for a walker you can sit and paint in.....get Joseph to work!
ReplyDeleteThanks all! Cheryl, we were at Bennett Springs, but YES, my cousin and his wife stay in one of those cabins at Devil's Den. Gorgeous! Jeanette, he's already on it.
ReplyDeleteFabulous post and sketches! I'd love to spend a long time looking through this journal.
ReplyDeleteThank you--you'll be missed tomorrow! I'll try to remember to bring it next time you can join us.
DeleteI'll miss you too! Bill and I ate out tonight as a "consolation" meal since we couldn't make it to sketch crawl. (Oh . . . and to celebrate his birthday a few days early)
DeleteI disagree with you re: the above sketches' coloring. All show a real atmospheric moodiness to me --- a tangible change in seasons.
Tell him happy birthday for us! And thank you...
DeleteLookin' good Kate!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steven!
DeleteI just can't get enough of your art, Kate. And while I take seriously everything you say about art, I have to disagree with your assessment of the sketch of Joe fishing. The dark background speaks to the size and power of nature relative to the diminutive fisherman and having just experienced our forest's annual color show, I don't find the colors in your work to be too bright.
ReplyDeleteQuestion time. When you did the large, red/orange tree painting, did you either mentally or with pencil lay out the tree structure, paint the foliage and then add the ink/paint branches or some other sequence? Sure looks great.
Cheers --- Larry
Thanks, Larry! The sumac really was that kind of rose red, but it looked a bit gaudy on paper next to the brownish hill, to me.
DeleteI did the ink first, just keeping in mind where the foliage masses were, and kept looking back up at the tree to place them. Fun!
Kate, love your trees and the fireplace! Could you share what your original palette would be? I too, wanted to tweak the yellow, a little too green for me. I ditto Larry's question, love to learn about your process.............
ReplyDeleteHere's pretty much my longtime basics, Cathy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cathy-johnson/2342448024/in/set-72157604173444404/ though I vary a bit here and there. Don't use Cadmium as much any more, and often have Manganese Blue Hue in there somewhere. I did a new demo of this at some point but not sure where it is!
DeleteAh, found the later palette...which has ALSO changed, some...http://www.flickr.com/photos/cathy-johnson/8126242177/in/photostream
DeleteI must have missed a post someplace. I didn't realize you were using a walker. If anybody can figure out how to sketch and paint using a walker, you can! Or between you and Joseph--LOL! Beautiful work, as always. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's just temporary, Rita! I messed up my knee in early October, but it's a lot better now. I'll take the walker when I need to go a distance, but I'm not using it around the house now, knock wood!
DeleteReally like your use of the primaries. It's also fun to pour them on a sheet of watercolor paper, keeping in mind what colors and blends you want in various areas of your sketch, letting them run together freely, but guiding and blending them a little with your fingers and brush. Great serendipities!
ReplyDeleteThese are very pretty!
ReplyDeleteWow the colors in these sketches are so rich! Your color challenge plus the fall leaves are conspiring. I think I might try limiting my pallet to see what happens...
ReplyDeleteThanks all, I'm really enjoying the challenge. I've done the pouring and spraying thing, too!
ReplyDeleteLovely trees and landscapes! I especially like the watercolor of the red tree from the Ozarks.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Richard! I'm having fun with this self-test, as you can see.
DeleteWonderful work, Kate!! Brilliant, yet simple.
ReplyDelete