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| Fantastic Watercolor Outdoor Painting Black Bird, flowers and Berries, 29.5x42cm |
Tuesday 30 September 2014
BLACK BIRD AND THE BERRIES, Watercolor Painting Birds and Cottage Garden
The first time I saw a black bird behave this way. It sat on the lawn instead of running around. Normally when a black bird saw me it would keep a distance. This time it did not move but sat on the lawn. I heard some humming strange noise. I looked around I saw nothing then I realized the noise came from the bird. Then I look at its direction, I realized the bird did not care about my existence because of the ripening berries I grew near the fence. I painted the bird with its fascination of the berries using the landscape composition of the popular path toward the sandpit.
If you have any queries relating to the painting or would like a painting by commission, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
Friday 26 September 2014
NZ FANTAILS IN COTTAGE GARDEN, Watercolor Painting Birds and Cottage Garden
The randomness of a cottage garden create charm and excitement. It seems that every summer I come back to create a courtyard garden for the season. To obtain the randomness, I go around the garden with a brush paper and palette. With a brush I gathered French
Lavender, Petunia (mix), Yellow Coreposis and Impatient from realistic to
abstract. Along the way I managed to
incorporate the fantails, NZ native bird that come to the garden very often to show me how they catch insects and look after the garden. With wonderful flying pattern, they make the garden alive and exciting.
This painting would be a nice way to create visual interest for young children in dull winter days or dull moments. It could be used to help babies to count, add, subtract, multiply and divide while recognizing shapes, forms, colors. Subtle forms were also used to help babies to further explore and relate to the beautiful natural world and the way it works using eyes and little fingers with their mums, the first teachers. And perhaps develop early imagination! A unique way to treasure and celebrate a new relationship in the family, the meeting of the minds, the fun and love to be shared through generations!
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| Wonderful Watercolor Outdoor Painting of Summer Cottage Garden, Flowers and Birds, NZ Fantails, 29.5x42cm |
Wednesday 24 September 2014
A VISIT OF THE SILVEREYES, Watercolor Painting Birds and Cottage Garden
Silvereyes come to my garden very often every summer. They came in small flock to check on the flowers for a few seconds and took off in a flash. Their movement is continuous, twist, turn, clinging upside down, dropping from one branch to another like a leaf.. They are fun to watch. A colorful cottage style garden and lively little birds are an ideal subject for painting to cheer up any dark moment in life from new born onward. Never be too young or too old to count birds and touching flowers! They make me happier all the time!
Silvereye is an
attractive small bird 11 to 13 cm in length and around 10 g in weight. Generally, it has a noticeable ring of white
feathers around its eye, olive-green wings and either a grey or olive-green
back, a lighter coloured throat - yellow or grey, flanks that range from chestnut
to pale buff, and an undertail that may be white or yellow.
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| Wonderful Watercolor on paper 29.5x42cm, Original Fine Art SOLD |
Tuesday 23 September 2014
THE OLD STONES OF CORNWALL PARK, Watercolor Painting Landscape, Auckland, New Zealand
I like the quirky look of the building. The positioning of the big old tree on the high ground summarizes the philosophy of the park designer. It looks like the hobbit dwelling. It was a nice day in the park. I did a sketch then rough in the colors, tree foliage and stones. I was a bit terrified even at the thought but I did that before. Jumping in with a wet brush then figure that out. It was a good experience! I threw a few more stones with moss on them to make them look original in the foreground and to strengthen the composition! Must say I finished details of the stones in mid ground at home, giving time to a cup of tea!
Standing in the magnificent park that was created and donated to the city of Auckland by Sir John Logan Campbell. A Scotsman who chose to live poor so the country he loved can live rich. These old stones remind me of the Stone of Scotland. Through my outdoor paintings in the park, I came to know a great person, John Logan Campbell and the culture he came from. I know Sir Campbell is just an individual. I know I only touch a leaf in the forest, the forest of Scotland.
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| Wonderful Watercolor Outdoor Painting of Cornwall Park, Auckland Historic old stone building, 29.5x42cm |
HUA LODGE, Watercolor Painting Landscape, Auckland, New Zealand
It took two en plein air sessions for this painting. I love quirky cottages, the bold chimney, the dragon scales on the roof, a little princess window with balcony caught my eyes. Later I learnt the history of the lodge...
Like Acacia cottage, Hua lodge was created by Sir John Logan Campbell. With great vision, he was able to use business skills to create great assets to the city and the country from a very humble beginning!
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| Wonderful Watercolor Outdoor Painting of Cornwall Park, Auckland Historic Hua Lodge, 29.5x42cm |
Monday 22 September 2014
ACACIA COTTAGE, Watercolor Painting Landscape, Auckland, New Zealand
The simple charm of
yester year in the wood, the cottage nested in the landscape of the Cornwall Park
enjoys the morning sun. I managed to
capture few activities of passer-by and a few birds. It was an enjoyable en plein air painting
experience!.. later I learnt a bit about the cottage and the original owner...
Acacia cottage was built in 1841 by Sir John Logan Campbell, a Scotsman, and his business partner William Brown. Sir John offered the occupation of the cottage to William Brown and his wife, while he lived and slept in a tent! Sir John Logan Campbell later became major of Auckland. He died unmarried but happy because he gave the park and the lot to the city! I personally think he had always married to NZ!. The cottage was originally situated off Shortland Street. In 1920, the cottage was removed and re-sited in Cornwall park. It is now the oldest wooden home in Auckland.
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| Wonderful Watercolor Outdoor Painting of Cornwall Park, Auckland Historic Acacia Cottage, 29.5x42cm |
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
Sunday 21 September 2014
LUNCH BREAK AT THE VILLAGE, Watercolor Painting Landscapes, Auckland, New Zealand
A lunch hour in the village was painted to depict the life style of the village. In main city it would be called the "Rush Hour" when every body has to hurry up or miss the lunch. The more flexible life style of the village holds its appeal to everyone from new born to retired. I tried to paint the village atmosphere that enhances the accommodating and compromising life style where everybody feels belong.
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| Wonderful Watercolor Painting of St Heliers, Auckland Historic Seaside village, 29.5x42cm |
A MORNING IN THE WOODS, Watercolor Painting Landscapes, Auckland, New Zealand
I love the feeling of being in
the forest with great old trees. While we were painting, a walker came and sat with a dog. He picked up a stick and threw to get the dog playing. But the dog refused. Dogs were not allowed in the woods. The dog owner called the dog to come to him. The dog did not come. It went to the edge of the woods and started calling! The dog loves the woods so much that it calls
out loud “ Woof! Woof!... I want to go into the woods!”. I think that’s what I heard. Among mature NZ natives of Dingle Dell is a
beautiful cabbage tree. The green leave
curtains of willow trees give great light effect. It's another enjoyable en plein air experience!
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| Wonderful Watercolor Outdoor Painting of Dingle Dell of St Heliers, Seaside village, Auckland Reserve, 29.5x42cm |
Saturday 20 September 2014
MORNING AT St HELIERS (3), Watercolor Painting Landscapes, Auckland, New Zealand
Just love the fresh morning air in this painting. I love fresh, a lot of fresh air. It's the easiest way to blow daily stress away... I wish everybody a wonderful day with a lot of creativity and fresh air from the south Pacific!
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| Wonderful Watercolor Outdoor Painting of St Heliers, Auckland Historic Seaside village, 29.5x42cm |
Friday 19 September 2014
HOME and GARDEN, Watercolor Painting Landscapes, Auckland, New Zealand
One of the characters of the village is a mix of architecture homes. This painting was started outdoor and finished at home. Sitting on the green of St Heliers rise, one of a scenic area of the village, I do a careful sketch and made notes of details of textures. I painted as much on site as I could. Fine details were added at home when memories were still fresh!
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
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| Wonderful Watercolor Outdoor Painting of a private home, St Heliers, Auckland Historic Seaside village, 29.5x42cm |
WALKING THE DOG (1), Watercolor Painting Landscapes, Auckland, New Zealand
Walking the dog is a popular activity in the village. The old houses and slightly overgrown garden, parks and beaches were main features of the suburb. I painted the scene to record the lifestyle of the village, peace and harmony.
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| Wonderful Watercolor Outdoor Painting of St Heliers, Seaside village, Auckland Reserve 29.5x42cm, Original SOLD |
Thursday 18 September 2014
RESTING FLORIST,Watercolor Painting Figure. Female Nude
I painted this from imagination. With a florist, flowers always are always her company!. It is a simple and light hearted way to illustrate the relationship between human and nature. I used three colors and a couple of brushes for this painting.
I apologize in advance to followers and viewers who feel offended by the image!
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| Beautiful Watercolor Painting Figure, Female Nude with Flowers |
Wednesday 17 September 2014
FLORIST AT WORK, Watercolor Painting Figure
I painted this picture while thinking of flowers and the possibilities of combinations of flowers that a florist can make. It's endless. I was amazed how perfect every bouquet is. I used to be hurried away from a flourish shop or flower stand in a shopping mall. I dream that I can be a florist to send messages with flowers!... What a wonderful job!.. then I realized all florists work very hard.. to make it looks like a dream!... then I realized to work hard for your dream is what make life wonderful!
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
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| Wonderful watercolor painting Figure, Flowers |
Tuesday 16 September 2014
ZINNIAS and SWEET PEAS, Watercolor Painting Still Life, Flowers
Another Print Sale of this painting! Warm and intense colors were chosen to depict the intense heat of summer! I often watch with amazement at the reaction of flowers to the heat from the sun. The petals are delicate and thin as our skin but yet thrive in the condition that I have to put a hat and a lot of sun cream on!.. how do they do that? I have not a clue except some descriptive science!
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| Gorgeous Watercolor Painting on paper |
BLUE WAVES, Watercolor Painting Nudes, Female Figures
Stop press! I've just found out I sold some prints through FAA (Fine Art America). It's one of my paintings that I did sometimes ago in a live nude painting session. Painting live model is very exciting! there's a quiet communication while painting is in progress! I saw an ocean inside her! Here it is the image...
I apologize in advance to followers and viewers who feel offended by the image!
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| Fabulous Watercolor Painting Figures, Female Nude Original Available for Sale |
Monday 15 September 2014
St HELIERS VILLAGE (2), Watercolor Painting Landscapes, Auckland, New Zealand
Another view of the village, another aspect of outdoor painting!. It a semi outdoor. I stood up and made a sketch on site and go home to finish it. There were a lot of noise, traffic and by walkers. Sometimes I had to sit down and wait for the bus and trucks to go away then stood up and refocused. It was also a fantastic day for a no rush coffee at this sea front village. So I made a lot of observations while enjoying the drink as an excuse for half done the job!
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| Wonderful Watercolor Outdoor Painting of St Heliers, Auckland Historic Seaside village, 29.5x42cm |
St HELIERS VILLAGE (1), Watercolor Painting Landscapes, Auckland, New Zealand
This is an old village in a very fast changing city. The commercial pressure in a city like Auckland is enormous. There are a lot of interests in the area. I do not know how long the easy feel of a seaside village will be replaced with modern up market type of buildings. I painted these scenes to share the traditional local lifestyle in the village atmosphere that has been treasured for generations. It's where their memories linger, their hearts feel home!
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| Wonderful Watercolor Outdoor Painting of St Heliers, Auckland Historic Seaside village 29.5x42cm, Original Fine Art Available for Sale |
Saturday 13 September 2014
ZINNIA SONATA (8), Watercolor Painting Summer Flowers
Flowers stand out more in a vase because their environment or surrounding change. The usual contrast or competing colors of other plants are removed. Putting them against a dark window in the evening creates an intimate sense...At the end of the day, I like to stare at them alone in the evening in the warm light as the day fades away. I love to hang on to every summer day as long as I could so I can have a double summer! :-)
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
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| Sensation Fine Art Watercolor painting on Paper Zinnia Sonata series, Eight of Eight |
ZINNIA SONATA (7), Watercolor Painting Summer Flowers
The intense contrast in nature is part of the excitement of the season. How we perceive colors is a personal experience and a personal interpretation when we put the impression down on to paper or canvas. In many cultures, there are believes that flowers were sent to earth to fight darkness. Just look at the flower shops everywhere. They are a concrete evidence!
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
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| Sensation Fine Art Watercolor painting on Paper Zinnia Sonata series, Seven of Eight |
ZINNIA SONATA (6), Watercolor Painting Summer Flowers
I love all expression of flowers, budding, blooming and dying. The process of making colors under the heat of the sun is a bit like the process of painting. It is exciting to see a blooming flower. It is exciting to see colors on paper (in my case, it's watercolors!). This helps to explain I like nature so much! I always want to see more of nature in progress!
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
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| Sensation Fine Art Watercolor painting on Paper Zinnia Sonata series, Six of Eight |
Friday 12 September 2014
ZINNIA SONATA (5), Watercolor Painting Summer Flowers
Different light condition of the day give different tone to the colors. Colors in flowers and colors in the universe are very close. I look at the colorful universe and think of a flower garden with fascinating light. I see a universe inside flowers and flowers in the universe. The colors on earth indicate something toward eternity?... this made every little life on earth perfect and complete. Every little cell has a complete system!
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| Sensation Fine Art Watercolor painting on Paper Zinnia Sonata series, Five of Eight |
ZINNIA SONATA (4), Watercolor Painting Summer Flowers
Zinnia bloom can be double or single or mix and their color range and pattern keep expanding. Expert gardeners keep adding more varieties to this amazing flower species. I noted that it seemed only planet earth generate flowers and up to now it seems human exists only on planet earth. The same planet as the flowers! On that thought, human and flowers are truly for each other. Looking at the flower industries around the world, we know human finds comfort in flowers and flowers depend on human to perform at their full potentials!
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
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| Sensation Fine Art Watercolor painting on Paper Zinnia Sonata series, Four of Eight |
Thursday 11 September 2014
ZINNIA SONATA (3), Watercolor Painting Summer Flowers
I like to see the process of flowers, budding, blooming changing forms. The good summer heat help to perfecting the flowering process. The colors, pure and intense with the heat and light create total effect. I am amazed the sensation from these flowers coming through the eyes are strong enough to fill the mind and the whole body. I always feel totally happy with moments like those. Transferring the experience into a painting, I stay in the middle of realism, impressionism and expressionism. sound complicated and confused... It's the way I tried to say I painted from what I saw to how I felt and add some fascination to it!
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| Sensation Fine Art Watercolor painting on Paper Zinnia Sonata series, Three of Eight |
ZINNIA SONATA (2), Watercolor Painting Summer Flowers
I use bright flowers and sun light to see colors and what they do to the mind. Zinnia is one of the flowers I grow for summer. Strong stem, bold form, large range of striking colors make them stand out. I used to sit quite close to admire them in the summer heat until my eyes came to a saturation, my heart felt a buzz. I turned away and felt like half drunk. A formal word for this effect is, I call it, summer and color sensation. This Sonata series was created to describe the impact of blooming zinnia in the summer heat on me!
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| Sensation Fine Art Watercolor painting on Paper Color sense, Zinnia Sonata series, Two of Eight |
ZINNIA SONATA (1), Watercolor Painting Summer Flowers
I refresh my sense of colors every season by contact with nature. By color theory, colors do not stand alone. They have rhythm, vibration .. in contrast, enhancing, harmony or random mode.. I thought about Van Gogh with his sense of colors and the Dutch massive flower fields or Monet with his garden. Flowers are my favorite source of exciting colors!
I created a color sense series, Zinnia Sonata, of eight small paintings recording a dance, a visual musical theater of colors of zinnias, the flowers spread out at different height different tone, different colors like a piece of music notes of the master nature.
I created a color sense series, Zinnia Sonata, of eight small paintings recording a dance, a visual musical theater of colors of zinnias, the flowers spread out at different height different tone, different colors like a piece of music notes of the master nature.
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| Sensation Fine Art Watercolor painting on Paper Color Sense, Zinnia Sonata series, One of Eight |
Tuesday 9 September 2014
SURPRISED PROPOSAL FROM YOUNG CRICKET, Watercolor Black White Gray Insects, Flowers and Plants
My final Black White Gray world is a dream!. It's a fancy bedtime story by myself.
One day, Young Cricket set off for an adventure. He could not fly yet so he climbed and he hopped. Soon he found himself in an amazing world of flowers. There he met an amazing creature. He thought she was an angel. It's even better than that she was real, a real butterfly. He was shocked, he was amazed, then finally he proposed something. I could not hear what he said. I could not hear what she said. But I saw the butterfly was taken aback, her tummy dropped and she nearly fell off the sky. I did not know what happened next or after that. I know since then life of Young Cricket would never be the same. He looked at the sky a lot. A day dreamer, so all other crickets said. With that story, I fell asleep. The dark sky, the dark in the painting make your eyes seek dark. So they close and your mind seek a passage into dream. This painting gave me a good sleep!. A surprise treat! it's another secret of painting that I found. Hope the story explains the composition, the color choice and the painting technique!...Oh I also found black watercolor is softer than ink. Try black and white painting, it might be the sleep therapy without medication!
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| Beautiful Black White Gray, watercolor on paper, 42x29.5cm, |
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
THE RISE OF TIGER LILIES, Watercolor Painting and Drawing Flowers
I love the expression of Tiger Lilies. Like a tiger in the bush these flowers shoot up from nowhere. They have the most glamorous curves, graceful manner to greet the summer sun. They often gave me pleasant surprise! I used the illusive softness of watercolor and simple tone to capture the profusion of the plants and wonderful features of leaves, buds and flowers
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| Black Grey and white watercolor painting nature, plants and flowers, 29.5x42cm |
DRAGON FLIES AND THE SWAMP CHASE, Watercolor Black White Gray Insects and Plants
I painted this picture from imagination and observation. I live near a swarm reserve. I love the tropical heat, the breeze of summer and I imagine the dragon flies of my childhood. Obviously they're always there! Just look at them!... like fighter jets on a chase! Painting this picture made me realized my childhood walks with me every time!
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
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| Unique Black Grey and white watercolor painting nature, plants and insects, swamp, 29.5x42cm |
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
Sunday 7 September 2014
COSMOS AND THE BUTTERFLIES, Watercolor Painting and Drawing Insects and Flowers
What can a butterfly see? Leaves, buds, flowers, seeds, coming and going are all the excitement of a flower garden life cycle and the butterflies with wings like flying petals! I tried to see beauty beyond colors. The other reason was I wanted to put more and more like life in the garden in abundant and does not have an end. Everything in a A4 size. Amazing what a small piece of paper can contain! The whole world of the butterflies with all intricate details! I think the picture summarizes the butterfly vision! :-)
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| Black and white watercolor painting nature, plants and insects, 29.5x21cm |
SEEING BLACK, Watercolor Drawing and Sketching
During the posting of my Black-White-Gray work, a thought came to my mind. I recorded it on an A5 Visual Diary. I get fond of the irresistible old bamboo brush after a light wash an the lips and eye. It made them feel alive. To show the brush I took the photo with my left hand. I was excited with the useful left hand on the use of camera! Seeing black with lines, shape and human form portrait and figures is a temptation I would love to indulge one day....
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| Brush sketch study on lines, shape, face elements with Ivory Black watercolor |
Saturday 6 September 2014
DAMSELFLIES IN THE WILD, Watercolor Painting and Drawing Insects, Plants
Emerge in the summer grass were wild flowers and transparent wings. In the breeze, the damselflies managed their delicate balance. That's how I remember them. The delicate gray tone was used to depict the light effect in the field. I also tried to show how delicate damselflies naturalize themselves in the environment. I loved the rare minutes to be alone in the field with them. After I painted them I knew they were always be with me somehow. That's probably the reason, my brush chose the damselflies instead of others! :-)
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| Black and white watercolor painting nature, plants and insects, 29.5x42cm |
Thursday 4 September 2014
DAMSELFLIES ON BAMBOO, Watercolor Painting Insects
Tiny damselflies were my childhood favorite. They took me into imagination. Watching them help to relieve stress and relate to nature with their liveliness. I painted them with my imagination and bamboo bush outside the window.
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
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| Black and white watercolor painting nature, plants and insects, 29.5x21cm |
THE LATE SUMMER GRAPE VINE, Watercolor and Pen Drawing and Painting Plantscape
Grapes and more grapes, I love the heavy loaded vines. Here is the last of the four plantscape painting and drawing balck, white gray using pen, a brush and ivory black! Simple pleasure!
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
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| Beautiful pen and brush work, watercolor on paper, 42x29.5cm |
THE GRAPE VINE, Watercolor and Pen Drawing and Painting Plantscape
I love to look at grapes on a rambling vine. I came back with the best bunch of grapes that I could afford and created another piece, free hand no pencil, no rubber just a pen and a brush to be consistent with the other previous two. This one looks tasty!
If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog. Thank you for your interest.
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| Beautiful pen and brush work, watercolor on paper, 42x29.5cm |
THE SPRING VINE, Watercolor and Pen Drawing and Painting Plantscape
I came back again sitting on the ground, drawing and painting the vine with its blossom. Pen and a brush with diluted ivory black on watercolor paper, no pencil or rubber to keep the clean, elegance look!
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| Wonderful pen and brush work, watercolor on paper, 42x29.5cm |
THE VINE, Watercolor and Pen Drawing and Painting Plantscape
Extracting the colors out of the object, monotone drawing and painting expose the essence of the scene. Turning the color analysis function in my mind off, what left of the vine were lines, shape, light and shade. The elegance I found in nature after hours sitting in sun light. The interchange of light and shade, negative and positive, front light, side light, back light and reflective light. It was an enjoyable experience!
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| Exciting pen and brush work, watercolor on paper, 42x29.5cm |
Wednesday 3 September 2014
LADYBIRD ON SPIDER PLANT (2), Watercolor Drawing and Painting Nature, Plants, Insects
She went. I looked. I found her on the other side of the plant. I thought she was checking something. I gently let her on a paper and placed her on the leaves for another painting. If the ladybird got frighten, she might just fly away abd I could never find her. This awareness add a bit more alertness to the painter (which was me who) was enjoying the privilege to be alone with her! During the painting, I noted the spider plant withered a bit. When the painting finished. I put the ladybird back into the garden and gave some water to the plant! The sparkling light captured on the leaves by pressing the brush gave life to the picture! I used different brushes for different effect. Light effect on positive shapes in this case is critical. A few sparks on simple picture like this speak volume!
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| Exciting brush work, watercolor on paper, 21x29.5cm |
LADYBIRD ON SPIDER PLANT (1), Watercolor Drawing and Painting Nature, Plants, Insects
I gently scooped a ladybird and put her on a spider plant and quietly observed her under a magnify glass. Knowing where she was, I made a mental note on her position on the paper. I did not want to dent the surface of untouched watercolor paper with pencil or eraser. Fully aware that the brush mark would be permanent, I meditated for a minute then set go. With a synthetic brush and diluted watercolor ivory black on a palette, I started with the lightest leaves first then went darker. I pressed the dry brush down real hard to get the light effect on part of the leaves that bent toward the light. Then I added the ladybird and the stem. It was an enjoyable exercise. I started another...before let her go back into the garden!
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| Exciting brush work, watercolor on paper, 21x29.5cm |
MY OUTDOOR PAINTING GEAR
I have a dream to paint where I like when I like anything I like. Freedom comes with a cost. I think I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to outdoor painting gears. I did not talk about the gear much because it's rather personal and not many hoarder like to reveal their collection either. I look at the outdoor painter blog here and there and I noticed a lot have posted theirs to show method and output paintings. I take courage to show mine first time today! Because of my ambitious dream, I have many sets for outdoor painting. Here is one of them
New Zealand is a coastal country. The sudden change in weather means there would be a good use of a good size wind/rain jacket. I prefer good pocket to keep the car key. Everything need to be light. A pair of garden shoes to walk around in the open, a light chair, a light easel, paper and board... I come to the site to expect the unexpected so I can not be disappointed if things do not go my way. I would not know whether I paint standing up or sitting down or lying around. If it's too windy I take the board and sit down. Sometime the place is too sloppy, no space for easel, I use another board on my lap for the palette
Below are the gear and finished painting at St Heliers beach. I went home, the sun disappeared. After setting things up. The sky was too grayish, there was not much hope. I have to delay photoing the paintings.
Tuesday 2 September 2014
TEA BREAK, Watercolor Painting Still Life with Flowers
Time for a cup of tea. From time to time, I hit a refresh button to relax, regain and find some new inspiration. If I am flooded with ideas, I'll take a long walk to clear my head and let excitement settled down. Then one will surface, that's the one I would go for. Others will sink into subconscious as reserves. If I had no idea, I would practice brush strokes. It helps me to think and relax. A quick painting like this one is a stress relieving technique!
A relaxing, casual watercolor style was used to depict a relaxing moment. Light, shade, positive and negative forms have a dance from realistic to abstract...Simple things in life can give lots of comfort. Cool tone was used for relaxed atmosphere. A quiet moment in the sun helps me to complete the painting before the tea get cold! A little technique I used for speed painting. The quicker the painting the sooner I get to the cup!
A relaxing, casual watercolor style was used to depict a relaxing moment. Light, shade, positive and negative forms have a dance from realistic to abstract...Simple things in life can give lots of comfort. Cool tone was used for relaxed atmosphere. A quiet moment in the sun helps me to complete the painting before the tea get cold! A little technique I used for speed painting. The quicker the painting the sooner I get to the cup!
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| Wonderful Watercolor Painting Still life with Daisies on paper size, 29.5 x 42 cm |
Monday 1 September 2014
HOODED ROBIN, Watercolor Painting and Drawing Birds
The name reminds me of the stories of heroic Robin Hood who set out to fight for the poor. I portrait this bird with a simple glow, intense look on a bare branch that symbolize poverty. It was a bit of fun letting the story thought guide the composition! A practice used in oriental art!
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| Beautiful Original Watercolor Painting Birds and Plants |
NZ STITCH BIRD, Watercolor Painting and Drawing Birds
The stitchbird is a small honeyeater-like bird. The stitchbird rarely lands on the ground and seldom visits flowers on the large canopy trees favoured by the larger birds like tui and bellbird. The alert pose was chosen to depict the difficult situation of the stitchbird. It likes the same food sources, small insects, flowers and fruits, but have to give ways to lager birds. Instead of putting its feed down and fight for equality, it chooses to feed on lower quality food and live in peace! somewhere away from the main food source, the ground and the canopy! In the painting, I gave it a fancy bush to hide! a secret retreat!
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| Beautiful Original Watercolor Painting Birds and Plants |
NZ BELLBIRD, Watercolor Painting and Drawing Birds
Olive green and red eyes make the bird look like it has something relate to theater . These birds sing during the day but more in the early morning and late evening. Bellbird song consists of three distinct sounds similar to the sound of chiming bells. Beautiful and delightful sounds, maybe that' the reason for the name "Bellbird". First wash was on the general shape of the bird. then I focused on the eye with initial orange then crimson red. Then I moved on to the body. After the body I moved back to add depth and highlight on the eye. It was a run around marathon. Then I left it to dry. When I looked back at the painting, I had a bit of a startle. The eye looked straight at me. I felt like to hold the bird in my hand! The eye haunted me for days!
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| Beautiful Original Watercolor Painting Birds and Plants |
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