Still Working on Loose

"Untitled Profile"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood

One more exercise in trying to stay loose and using a painting by Charles Reid as a guide.  This one wasn't quite as traumatic to paint, and it went equally quickly.  I'm still trying to learn from this technique and keep the colors purer and more simple.  It's tougher than it looks, and I suspect is going to take quite a while to incorporate into my own natural style.  It's from our last day of class for this semester, so I guess I'm on my own for the time being.  It might be time to take a break from watercolor and move back to a mixed media painting,   I've got one I started and it would be nice to try and finish it before the next watercolor class begins at the end of January.  So many paintings--so little time!  What a lovely problem!!

Loosest Yet

"Untitled"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood

"Yay!  Finally!"  No that wasn't my reaction -- it was the reaction of my instructor.  We were copying again, much like we did last semester for the landscape class (this one is based on a painting by Charles Reid, a true master).  I painted this in a little over an hour (which is pretty quick, for me) and, to be completely honest, I spent almost all of that time muttering under my breath.  The style is not easy for me, and the painting felt totally out of control.  But suddenly, at the very end, it just pulled together and was done.  I added some splatters and drips (now that was fun) and voila -- the loosest one yet.  I'm going to have to do some more of these to get a better feel for the process and style, but I like the end result.

Man in a Straw Hat

"Man in a Straw Hat"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood

As the semester draws to a close (no pun intended), we've moved on to doing faces.  The idea is to find a looser approach (my "every semester goal" it seems).  This is a start, but still not as loose as I'd like to go. 

But wait -- there's more.  If you want to see loose -- check out the "Loosest Yet" post!

Martini Needed

"Martini Needed"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, 2012

Okay -- last one in the series.  Ellipses are improving, glass reflections coming along, and so now it's time to add in some metal that will reflect the jar and the two olives waiting outside.  It's been a good study, and now it's time to move to the next subject.

Peachy Keen

"Peachy Keen"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, 2012

Whoops!  Slipped some fruit in for a change of pace.  I've discovered how difficult it is to differentiate a bunch of peach slices when they're all the same color.  Yikes! 

Pickle Garden

"Pickle Garden"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, 2012

 So we're still doing jars of various vegetables.  Learning about ellipses (not easy) and highlights on glass.  Two more to go!

A Peck of Pickled Peppers

"A Peck of Pickled Peppers"  (Watercolor)  C. Eastwood, 2012

Our watercolor class has moved on from painting paint brushes to painting jars with interesting things in them.  I nabbed the jar of pickled peppers and this is the result.  With all due respect to Peter Piper, I realize this isn't exactly a "peck" -- but it was too good a title to pass up!  The next one up is going to be another glass jar filled with .... well, you'll just have to check back in a few days and see what it is.  I'm thinking of this painting and the one to come as "kitchen" paintings.  Wouldn't they look yummy on a kitchen wall?!