Product Review: Watercolor Ground ~ Daniel Smith

Watercolor Ground, a product from Daniel Smith.                                                      



Ugly Duckling, Not
watercolor canvas board 8"x10"
© 2012 Barbara Parish



I am pleased with the easy application and drying time.                                                  

The watercolor brush crossed the surface with no effort and the color dried almost the same intensity.

I found layering color needs a light touch, the under color might lift or the colors blend.  

Nice! Talk about lifting, a damp brush can lift color back to white.  Be careful of blotting with a tissue or towel, the color might lift blotchy.                                                                 

I have covered three sizes of canvas board, ready to paint.  I will take them out on location to paint my next visual story.

The last step before framing, spray with matt fixative. 

To frame, no need for glass, secure the painting with brads, put dust cover on back, wire to hang, name card on dust cover, and your ready to exhibit.

Supplies:

* Watercolor Ground from Daniel Smith

* Gesso brush, can be cleaned with water

* Craft paper to protect the table

* Water to spread ground easier

* Hand made paper or canvas board 

* Fixative, matt finish 

Bougainvillea Demo at the Mission San Juan



Barbara's Demo



Mission Beauty



Bougainvillea, a magnificent blanket of flowers.  This Opera colored attention getter had the class grabbing for their watercolor brushes.

This little demonstration was the challenge from Carole.  Paint that!

I painted wet into wet by charging in a light tone of Opera, then medium tone of Opera, and just before the shape dried I added intense Opera.  So, the Opera color gave me the light, medium, and dark I needed to make form.  I did some negative painting for the few green leaves trying to show through the blanket of Opera flowers.

Art Happenings at the Mission San Juan Capistrano

The watercolor workshop painters stepped into a world of color and fragrance last Saturday at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. The mission ablaze with a variety of flowers all supporting the presence of arches and hallways that tell the story of its 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 1812. The bell tower was completely obliterated. Now, the bell tower rebuilt and ringing with praise.  Artistic juices flowed; we were encompassed in a blanket of floral jewels that gave life to the broken stucco on the arches and walls.

The class went in all directions snapping reference photos, talking and laughing, pleased about the beautiful day to paint. I set-up my art gear under a gazebo.  Decisions, what to demo for the painters?  Everywhere I looked was a painting. In front of me, a broken stucco column showing the sienna colored bricks, a large weathered pot touching the column with vibrant red geraniums gracefully hanging to the ground; this could be my demonstration. No, I wanted to paint more of a statement about the mission. I looked to my right; there was my demo painting, the Mission Bells!

The Painters were focused all morning, time for a break.  We walked around a corner and stopped in our tracks, in front of us a huge ball of Opera colored Bougainvillea standing in the sun. Carole turned to me and said, Paint That! Yes!! a challenge.  The break was over; we found a spot under an arch for me to demo that gorgeous Bougainvillea.  I was lecturing on color, shape, and the technique when I realized the class was growing in number. Mission visitors where enjoying the demo as a mission attraction. I was pleased!

Walking out of the mission tired, but feeling good about the painting day, we crossed the street to have a late lunch at Cedar Creek.

My next workshop May 19th, Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano.
I invite you to come join us for a fun day painting on location.
                                       
Links:
http://www.missionsjc.org/
http://www.cedarcreekinn.com/

Accepting the Challenge

I am on a four week quest, a commitment, to build a more vibrant blog; one that will consistently inform and entertain. I signed up for the 4-week Blog Triage class with Cynthia Morris and Alyson Stanfield. Today’s assignment is to describe the people I want to visit and read my blog.

I will design my Aquarellist, Adventures in Watercolor blog to resonate with energetic men and women looking for a new hobby or a second profession. Painters, quilters, decorators, and newly retired, all who are interested in color, design, placement of shapes and telling their visual story with watercolor.

My intention, to show and tell art happenings, write artist interviews, share watercolor techniques, post information on related art events, promote my Seasonal Watercolor Workshops, and weekly classes.

Links:
http://originalimpulse.com/blog Cynthia Morris
http://artbizblog.com/ Alyson Stanfield

Painting On Location

No need to carry a heavy bag full of every painting item you own. Pack light for easy carry and a fun painting day.

My carry bag holds; Camera, few paper towels, small water container, value scale, pencil, white eraser, palette, paper, brushes #8 round/3/4 flat/ rigger/fan/baby tooth brush/ and a folding chair that fits between handles.

No need to haul a cumbersome easel, sit in chair, paint on lap, palette and water on the ground. Easy!

In my week long workshop in September, I will suggest bringing an easel.

I invite you to come paint with me, click the link for more information Barbara Parish

Watercolor Workshop ~ The Jewel of the California Missions

Mission San Juan Capistrano is called the Jewel of the California Missions. Join me, Saturday, April 21 st, explore and paint the adobe architecture and abundance of flowers.

In this One day - One Painting workshop, I'll demonstrate how to simplify the landscape and talk about selecting a color scheme to grab the essence of this historical mission.

Unsure about Plein Air Painting, no worries, this is fun! Seeing color and object placement in person will give you a greater sense of place. So, come along with me, what you learn on location can help you with a studio painting.

Click Barbara Parish to register.

Hello Mother Nature ~ Wind~Rain~Snow

The Cajon Pass and High Desert of Hesperia expecting rain and snow this weekend

The One Day~One Painting Workshop Saturday March 17th canceled

I know, you probably would like the Highway Patrol to guide you up and over the Cajon Pass. This way, you can venture into the desert snow drifts with winter coat and gloves, to talk about painting a vista you can't see and your frozen fingers won't hold a brush. NOT!

I will reschedule this workshop for another time ;-)

Happy Painting! Contact me with questions? barbaraparish@verizon.net

Barbara