I was planning on painting this yesterday but I was so tired from posting and then life got in the way. Been thinking about painting the rocks at Malakoff because they are quite unusual in that many of the rocks have been oxidized by the local minerals left over from the hydraulic gold mining back in the last century. Here is the post from a plein air trip that I made about a month ago Malakoff Diggins-World Watercolor Month #4
- My reference photo
I took artist license and moved some elements around to simplify and to give some interest. I decided not to litter my scene with all the trees but who knows I might go back in and put some more trees in. I took some time with this painting and I learned a lot. I felt it was loose in some ways but tighter than I normally like to work.
Leaning Point:
- Plein air painting has been exercising my artist muscles because it felt so easy to paint this, not a problem, I knew exactly what I was suppose to do.
- Again, paint what you love and what you know. I am a little stubborn in that I will not paint a subject or place that I have never been. I used to when I was first learning but now I am adamant that I only paint a location that I have been to.
WOW!!!!!
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paint what you love and what you know.
golden words. magic words.
well said.
love the painting’s fresh, free energy, color, FEELING, and movement.
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thank you Debi! I live by those words, I just need to start travelling now! lol
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This is an awesome work, and I am so glad to hear you say “I knew exactly what I was suppose to do”. I guess that is the sweet spot we are searching for! To me it looks like your colors and edges were done in a very confident spontaneous way. Beautiful!
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thank you! though next time I think that I’ll work my values darker…..I don’t think that my lights are bold enough. I often will try to get it done too quickly. I was having so much fun that I should have taken more breaks to have “fresh eyes” to see what I need to do. The more I look at it, the more I pick out as problematic! ha…..but what I loved the fact that my confidence level was pretty high and that inner knowing of what I need to do, now that was on this side of miracle!
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I think your picture is perfect, but I understand you may have ideas for next time. I Have to say I always found it difficult to clean, strong darks in watercolor. It really takes guts and lots of experience tomut it down right first time and keep that color clean. You are really hitting your stride Margaret. It is so good to see your painting arsenal develop over time.
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so true and I am beginning to understand that value is relative, keeping it adjusted so that the darks don’t have to be black dark to work. It will be fun to get a grip on this value thing with watercolor.
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Your paintings get better and better as time goes on. I love to see what you are gonna post next. I love your rocks.
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thank you….you are so kind 🙂
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Oh yes, this is stunning, replaced my favourite. I am so with you, I can only paint what I love and like, otherwise my heart is not in it, and that shows in the end result.
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yes….I had noticed that in the years past but I never paid attention to it because painting and drawing something that I didn’t particularly like was “good for me”…..what kind of reasoning is that? now, I pay close attention to what I love or at least like. 🙂
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You so rock at rocks!! I just love all of the brilliant colors and textures you weave in and this one is so glowing and full of Light which I just Love! Thank you, Margaret! Beautiful!
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oh good! funny by the end of the day, I was getting nitty picky and that is a sign that I have been at it too long. I need to get more space and balance while I am painting. So glad that you like it! your comments warms my heart 🙂
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Great job, I really like this, M. 💙
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Wonderful painting, the rocks are with beautiful form and color!
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Love the colors and movement… it’s like a dance on paper!
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thank you so much! so neat to hear how it comes across, it was a dream painting it.
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Love the colours and the way you have preserved the highlights
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thank you David 🙂
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