CQJP July Block

Friday, July 27, 2012

Back to Painting 2 and Stash

Last time I stopped working on my painting, it looked like this:

Truth be told, I was fearful of tackling the water.......

So the painting hid away in the cupboard for a week or so

and then I took it out to study it.


I decided the background trees were too yellow, and the rocks there were too golden.
So I dropped in some cobalt blue to set the trees into the background, and added some to the rocks. Branches appeared on the right with a darkening of the small dirt hill.

Then I added some more colour to the rocks in the middle ground, and added some to the foreground boulder. 
I wanted to add a bit of texture to the boulder, so dabbed on different rock colours, topped it with a layer of plastic wrap and smooshed it around (don't you love that technical term? lol) to create wrinkles in the plastic.
drying
here's how it looked once the paint was dry and the wrap removed
I added more greenery, softened the little earth hill in the middle ground, darkened the boulder base, and began to add the water


oh, no! look at my goof! the water on the hills in the background should be flowing downhill
What did I do?
First, I put in some blue--wrong! it should be brownish and/or greenish. What was I thinking?!
And I put it in flowing side to side--wrong again!
argh!
I tried to remove it. hmmm. Then I tried to cover it. no good.

I removed some of the colour from the rocks along the river to add highlights, and then I added some colour to the water. It still needs a lot of work.

Lastly, I applied a thin layer of gesso to white out my 'blue' water. Once it's dry, I can try again.

I got some new stash in the mail!
Luscious threads and fibers and silk ribbon.
Wildflower, perle, silk, and rayon thread goodies.
The fiber bundles unwound look so pretty!


I'm looking forward to playing with them all!


Hope you have time to play this weekend.

Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

26 comments:

  1. I hate when I do something to a WC painting I can't fix. I keep looking for the "undo" button. I think it looks like there is a lake upstream. Nice rocks!

    Those threads look yummy. I look forward to seeing how you use them.

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  2. I agree Connie that it's frustrating going along fairly well, and then goofing like that. Thanks.
    Some of those white/cream/silver fibers are earmarked for an up-coming project. The threads? well, I love threads.....can't get enough....except my budget keeps getting in the way of stash fulfillment! lol

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  3. I agree with you both about when something goes wrong while painting..Searching for an undo button Connie :)? it'd be so nice if we have that.Suz,your painting is coming along so well,texture looks great.I'd go for more greenish that brownish water near the hills because I think there will be a reflection/shadow of the greenery on water.Those new threads are so lovely.

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  4. I am not a water colour painter for that reason!!At least with sewing you can generally cover mistakes.What about making it a guache work now?There's not much that doesn't work.Looks pretty good to me Suz.Just that little bit of blue.
    Love those threads!!YUM!!

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  5. Thanks for sharing your painting journey. I am sure you will sort out that water. The rocks look great and I love the way you have worked on the colour in the trees.

    As for the stash- can never have enough beautiful threads and fibres. Enjoy.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  6. Your painting looks very real to me, you are doing a gorgeous job, I really felt that the whole scene was so real, I am looking forward to seeing how you get on as you do more.

    Lovely threads
    Margaret

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  7. Dear Suz, I think your painting is fantastic, and I love them, I hope you can fix the strea, to your satisfaction :-)
    Love all the fibers also, Yummy.
    Hugs,Dorthe

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  8. Painting with water color is hard and can be very frustrating. Your painting is really coming along and it's amazing what adding a bit of blue can do to make things recede.

    Happy painting and crafting. Your threads are beautiful.

    FlowerLady

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  9. Thanks Anita. I have both green and brown in the mid-section, and it feels and looks like it belongs, so I think you're right about the reflections. Thanks for the great feedback!
    If you find an undo button, let me know, okay?
    Hugs

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  10. Ah, Judy, but that's part of the challenge!
    I hope that the thin layer of gesso will allow the watercolour to flow, but at least it covered up the blue. I'm just going to ignore that little'cheat'. ;-o

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  11. Thanks, Dian, for your lovely comment. I had to put those threads and fibers away .......I kept playing with my pretties instead of getting my work done! lol
    Hugs

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  12. Margaret, thank you for those nice words. I'll do my best to finish this soon. Fingers crossed.
    Hugs

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  13. Thanks FlowerLady. I get frustrated quite often, but, when I can make it work, well, there's lots of satisfaction. Cobalt blue is very effective toning down colours and giving distance. Hope you're having a good weekend.
    Hugs f

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  14. The depth is there, the trees have the "right" green color and the rocks look great, esp. the one on the foreground.

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  15. Thanks Marjolein! I've been thinking of adjusting the size/angle of the foreground rock, but I'll see how it looks if er when I get the water finished.
    Hugs

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  16. I love how you were working with the rock in the foreground.
    I am no painter at all and I like your picture - in my fantasy there is really a lake up-hill and the water is flowing down from it.

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  17. I'm glad to know how you 'see' my painting, Anneliese! Thank you. It can be lots of fun creating design and texture with the plastic wrap.
    I was trying to convey a river with some little waterfalls and frothy, fast-flowing water. I'll keep trying.
    Hugs

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  18. Smooshing is not only an excellent technical term it is definitely an excellent result for just the right rock texture. Well done. Your new supplies are delicious. In your hands they will be very happy indeed. Serene Sunday dear...

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  19. As I'm someone who just throws all the colors in at once your painting looks wonderful, I'm off for a walk upstream! Lovely texture on that rock, it's a great technique.

    Wonderful threads!

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  20. It did work out well. I'm so pleased with that part of the painting. The water, now,........well, that needs some work. lol I can't wait to play with my new threads.
    Hope you've had a great weekend.
    Hugs

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  21. Emma, I think it's impossible to get your wonderful results by throwing in all the colours at once! ( But, hey, if it's not, please share your secrets! lol)
    I put those threads away, since I have other projects to finish first, but they keep calling my name. Maybe I'll have to give in....
    Wishing you wonderful inspirations,
    Hugs

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  22. You are so very artistically talented and even if you're painting has a good it still looks terrific! Love all your new threads!

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  23. Thank you so much!
    I am a threadaholic. I can't get enough. I want some of every kind in every colour. I need help ............. (to carry all the packages...lol)
    Hugs

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  24. Susan,
    I am not in to paintings but sill love your experiments with different techniques..I was just amazed by the effect of wrinkled plastic sheet..

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  25. Thanks Lakshmi! I find that fascinating, too. Plastic wrap, waxed paper, water, salt, all react with the watercolours to create different texture. It's fun to try them.
    Hugs

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