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My shop on this site is slowly starting to take shape. Over the years I've created dozens of pieces of artwork and decided it was about time I shared some of them with others who love watercolours and pretty things. It's clearly time to organize my original artworks. I keep them all in an antique chest with shallow drawers. It's perfect.   This painting has always been one of my favourites. I've re-created it with a beautiful message in the shop where you can download and print it instantly.  While I was sorting through my paintings, I found a few others that I'd kind of forgotten about. The amaryllis is part of a Christmas series and will appear in the shop and on other products in due time.  I'm so excited about all the new things and plans I have for my site and my art and writing. For now, though, please visit the shop and have a look around. For a limited time I've got FREE flag banners to create for Canada Day and US July 4th. Go download them right away. They won't last.  Be sure to have a look at how beautiful this painting is with its uplifting message. Print it, frame it, hang it, love it, or give as a gift. For a limited time only, Canadian and US flag banner kits are FREE in the shop. And if you haven't yet joined my creativity mailing list, go HERE now before you miss anything else.
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People often ask how I can paint different subjects. I'm a watercolourist and though I've used other media to create art, watercolour is my favourite. When I feel that I've come to the end of what painting with water and paint can do, I'll spend more time with other materials. In the meantime, below are step-by-step instructions to create a small, framed floral watercolour painting. I've included links for the materials you'll need and can order online, or you can check them out and find them at a local art or craft store.  I found this frame when I was cleaning out a box or stuff. It's an oak frame with glass.  Take your frame back off because you'll need that piece to measure your paper to fit. You'll need to purchase watercolour paper in at least 140lb weight. Supply: Watercolour paper.  Using the back of the frame, trace around the edge with a pencil.  You can cut it before your start painting, or after you've finished. Save the trimmings for testing your colours before applying to the paper.  Watercolour paints come in a variety of styles including sets of tubes, tiny boxes that fit in your pocket, or larger sets. You can buy individual tubes of paint in colours you like and a separate tray, such as the one shown below.  I prefer a palette that holds more colours and is easy and light to carry. Here is a good one I found.  This is the palette I use for small projects. I have a larger one that I use when painting large works that require big wet washes of colour.  One of my newer discoveries in the water brush, which is a brush with a water tank in the handle. It's wonderful for sketching and painting on location because you don't need to carry a pot of water. Water brushes come in different sizes so buy a set.  Now let's start painting. Using a colour of your choice, squeeze your water brush, or dip your paint brush into water and gather some paint. Paint a few irregular semi-circular swishes, as above.  When you've finished with one colour, be sure to squeeze all the colour from your water brush onto a paper towel until the water runs clear, or rinse your paintbrush and wipe it to make sure all the paint is out of it before picking up your leaf colour.  You can see what I mean in this photos. I keep a piece of paper towel or a clean rag handy for wiping my brushes.  The trick here is to lay the colour down quickly and don't mess around with it. If you put wet colour into wet colour, or onto wet paper, it will perform differently than painting wet colour over dry colour. Try it on a paper scrap and you'll see what I mean.  There is more to creating a painting than simply painting separate element, so watch how the composition of this little work emerges.  Add a rosebud, and more petals on your dry main rose. You can also add more leaves, twigs, and extra stems.  I've added some little yellow flowers for variety, along with small leaves to complement them. Add a few lines of green with your small bush to show leaf veins, and accent stems. Then pick up some light brown paint and dot some centres into the main rose and the yellow blossoms, making sure they're dry first.  I decided that I like this better with the large rose at the bottom. Feel free to turn your painting different ways and see how you like the effect.  I recommend standing your painting somewhere where you can see it and just look at it for a few days before adding any finishing touches. Resist the urge to fuss over the paint. Watercolours are meant to be fresh and clear, and painting over and over the same spots muddies them up. When you're happy with the result, don't forget to sign your work.  Make sure your paint is dry before placing the painting in the frame.
If you have no desire or intention to paint, guess what! You can buy your copy of my painting right now in the SHOP. I confess that I'm a fan of cuteness. (Like you didn't know.) I especially love cute towns and villages, shops, and streets. So when I go to the coast of Washington state, I always take a side trip to Seabrook Village. It's what I call a pop-up village because it didn't grow organically; it was conceived and created on purpose.  I don't know who was behind the concept, but they've done an exceptional job of creating a pretty village on a rise above the beach on the Pacific.  Every house is different from the ones next door and all are styled after coastal designs from days gone by and villages that have been around for a long time.  Seabrook Village was originally planned as a vibrant community but most houses have been purchased as vacation homes and many are available for rental.  We got lucky and the sun came out. As we visited prior to the Memorial Day weekend, and during the week, things were pretty quiet, but construction was marching on.  I enjoyed seeing the variety in architectural styles. Don't you love that line up of white rocking chairs on the veranda?  My ex-house painter husband couldn't help but mention the upkeep of all those window frames but I think they're so pretty.  This little beauty looks pure east coast but would be fun to stay in. I'm betting there is a view of the sea from the upstairs window.  Gravelled walkways meander through the village and flags flutter from covered porches. I told you it was sweet.  What's a good seaside house without a veranda? Okay without, but better with. Imagine soft summer evenings visiting with friends, a cool drink in your hand.  Every home has its own character. Look at all the windows climbing up that west-facing wall. You'd never be without a view of the ocean on your way up to bed.  This cute cottage looks like it was transported from Cape Cod—not that I've been there, but you know, I've seen pictures. The life preserver on the outside wall is a nice nautical touch.  And the picket fences...need I say more? I didn't think so.  Even when the styling is similar it's not the same. I love diversity, and red garage doors? Nailed it.  Of course you want your blue bicycle handy for tootling around the village. And nautical touches like loops of ropbe are perfectly fitting in this seaside town.  The village continues to grow and each phase seems like it's cuter than the last one. Some houses now perch on the very cliff overlooking the ocean. Huge sighs, here.  There is even a farm, plus this row of charming cottages where you can spend your vacation, or a month working on your novel.
Since we arrived early in the season, some of the shops were closed but it looked like more were scheduled to open soon. If there's one thing I love, it's darling gift shops. Speaking of which, I'm in the process of creating my online shop on this site. Be sure to take a look and to drop back often as I'm planning to add lots of my artwork, and much more, in the days to come. Subscribe here to get your free gifts and to stay in the loop for all the news. |
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