No worries. I am not comparing myself to the great Van Gogh. But I am using him as an example of perhaps the greatest colorist of all time. He dances with color. He plays with color. But he always gets the values right.
Do you think he saw the world differently than the rest of us do? Perhaps? Was he playing or working super hard and was a genius ? Maybe all of the above. What I have learned so far: Value shape painting is what I do and what I love to do. If I can ever find a color spot of value I am thrilled and look at all the color spots of value in the self portrait! I truly find it hard to breathe when I see his work.
1 Comment
Teachable Moments are all around us. Watch this video for one I found this week. Then see if you can solve the riddle of the first image. Yes, you can do it!
What I have learned so far: I am asking for help with a new project. I used to hate asking for help but now I just get on with it and ask "away". If you would be willing to write a short statement that endorses me as a teacher or an influence of any kind that will help me with the content I am currently working on. You can send any comments to me here. White is really a combination of the primary colors red, yellow and blue. In this example I have made a white pitcher appear on a colorful tablecloth. The trick is to paint the background and then use a triad of the primary colors to make the shadow shapes on the pitcher. If you get the values right it will look white even though the shape is loaded with color.
What I have learned so far: I am trying to get my youtube audience to increase. Not because I want to be a youtube star but because it is part of a curriculum I want to develop for other frustrated watercolor painters. If you know someone who might enjoy the channel please tag them and ask them to join us. In the meantime this Watercolor Coach is ready for lessons. Come join me in the studio or on line. What a difference a day makes. Yesterday was warmer and it made me happy. Today I found out my 2006 Pontiac Vibe is dead. It will not pass inspection. This car is my "Brad". Maybe you know the Liberty Mutual commercial where a young girl says nothing can replace Brad! They went though everything together and then you "totaled him". She says "Nothing can replace Brad!". Then Liberty Mutual called and she breaks onto her happy dance.
Well there is no happy dance for me. My Vibe, my "Brad" is done. I thought I had five more years with him. It only has 50,000 miles on it. Although it looks brand new I guess it is like a house with no foundation under it. It could collapse at anytime. What I have learned so far: Happy dance and car don't go together. I have never bought a car with out a great deal of distress. I don't think this time will be any different. In the meantime. You can find me at home and "Brad" is in the garage. This is my first narrated video. It was surprising to find out how easy it is to take out the sound track and add another.
It is -40 below wind chill where I live today and it is cold. So the warm studio was the place to be. What I have learned so far: Keep trying to work at your goals. The tiny steps will bring you closer each day. Doing nothing will get you nothing so why not participate and see what happens? |
About MeI am a watercolor coach, watercolorist, and author. Archives
September 2022
|