Hump Day

Quickly running out of ideas and things to say.  Sticking with the watercolor for now.  I've had this small field box of watercolor paints for about a year and didn't start using them until last night?!?  Why?  They were expensive and too precious to use?  Not really an excuse but it served as one to preclude their use.  Included with the paints was a small waterbrush, since I'd never used one before, I gave it a try.  

When I'm playing around with color this way, I should probably limit myself to the three primary colors.  However, that will be for next time.  Regardless, I enjoyed myself.  Below is my creative effort for 01/07/15.  

Once I had the picture in Photoshop, I added a few filters on a whim.  The results were fun, so I've included those as well.  Watercolor on 140lb cold press paper. 

I like the glowing pic the best.   

In watercolor, playing around on a scrap piece of paper, or the reverse side of a 'disaster' invariably produces something interesting and uninhibited. (Wayne Robert Hall)

 sla

Fat Happy Birds

Little birds look fat and happy when fluffed.  This is another thing that can make me smile, a fat happy little bird.  

This watercolor is done on 140lb paper.  I'll continue to challenge myself with this media as it loosens my tight grip on perfection.

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt

sla

January Moon

Moon rise was beautiful tonight.  According to the Farmers' Almanac, the January moon is also known as the Full Wolf Moon named for wolves howling hungrily in the cold and deep of mid-winter.  It is also referred to as the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule.  Her quiet beauty is cool and aloof.  Neither photograph nor painting does justice to the picture in my mind.   

The photo was taken with my Galaxy S4.  The watercolor is done on 140lb paper, this one I like better than my last, but I still need quite a bit of practice. 

There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.

George Carlin

sla

A temporary moment of reflection

We stopped at the top of a hill for my husband to take photos.  The day cloudless, the temperature perfect.  Wonderfully quiet, no sounds but the slight rustle of the breeze through the cedars.  I noticed several small stone cairns, each stone balanced carefully upon the other.  Small anonymous indicators someone had been there.  Who were they?  What were they thinking when they chose each stone?  

Some cairns have stood for decades, some serve as monuments, some as a guide for those who come after.  Some are placed for reflection.

I placed my stones with the intent to create a balance within myself for that small moment in time.  To indicate, for one brief instant, I was there. 

Everything in life... has to have balance.

Donna Karan

  
In reflection,
sla

Sampling watercolors

My first formal art instruction was in watercolor.  It can be both difficult and easy depending on how it is approached.  As a perfectionist, I can easily find fault in every color choice and every brushstroke I make.  For me, the most difficult thing about creativity is letting go and giving myself permission to make mistakes and just have fun.  I once found freedom and pleasure in watercolor, but life intervened.  

A few months ago I received a small sample set of QoR Watercolors along with a small piece of watercolor paper to play with.  I can and have found numerous faults with this small creation, but I have plenty of sample left and can always find more paper for any succeeding efforts.

sla

Unabandoned Glee

Fireworks are beautiful and full of joy.  One of the few things that can still bring forth an unwitting smile.  Just an ephemeral moment in time, a joyous light in the dark, captured with unabandoned glee on a small canvas. 

sla

Happy New Year!

2015 is my year of creativity.  Inspired by the fireworks in our neighborhood last night, here are my offerings for 1/1/15.

Photo taken with my Sony a390 and manipulated in Photoshop.  I chose this photo in particular because I loved the way the fireworks reflected off the roof of my husband's car.  

sla