Queen Anne's Lace

On this rainy day, I found some amazing blooms to paint! I've loved Queen Anne's Lace since I was a little girl, and on Washington Island they are now in full bloom!  Back in Missouri, they are glorious in May, and have long since faded away.  So, this was a perfect chance to paint them fresh, from shelter in the rain.  Their lacey caps are delicate, and always a great study in how to describe something loosely with paint.  It is so easy to try to render each tiny petal, but alas, not my mission.  Afterward, Mom and I were treated to a jam session at an Irish pub, by a friend of the Faheys. It's been so fun immersing ourselves in the island life up here! Painting number 3852 in 3852 days. 

Nightfall Floral

Nightfall Floral
Watercolor on 300lb paper, 9x6

Tonight I am experimenting with creating a mood with watercolor.  What is so natural with oils and acrylics, has taken me several weeks to learn with watercolors.  Happy and bright has been the mood for most of my watercolors.  With this one, I am capturing the garden by the glow of the moon as light fades from the sky.  I really love the 300lb paper, although I have so far.  I have quite a few different kinds - and it will take me a while to get them all tried!  Letting the colors soften into the landscape adds to the lower key of this painting.  This one makes 556 in 556 days.

Misty Queen Anne's Lace

Misty Queen Anne's Lace
Watercolor on paper, 6x9

On this watercolor painting, I wanted to create the atmospheric depth that existed in the scene.  Using loose, watery strokes and wet paper, I drop in a cool, misty background for the back hill and tree line.  I really like the heavy 300lb paper.  The paints move and spread in a way that they do not on the 140lb paper.  Using more color as I progress forward, I finish with the brighter hues after rubbing off the drawing gum.  I just bought a wonderful tool for this - a rubber cement remover, but it has mysteriously disappeared.  It is a small, rubbery square that would be fun to chew on by a puppy..........and it was last seen near his kennel.  I'm afraid it dropped in and was devoured!  So, instead of using this wonderful tool, I am rubbing the skin from my fingertips in the removal process!  Oh well, I need to order more gum, so I will get another tool at the same time.  This Queen Anne's Lace is at the outskirts of the yard, and the pasture is in the background.  I did add a new color to today's palette - indigo.  I like the cool darks that it adds to the shadow areas.  With so many new colors to try, perhaps I can slip in a new one each day.  This painting makes 555 in 555 days :)

Vibrant Queen Anne's Lace

Vibrant Queen Anne's Lace
Watercolor on paper, 7x10.5

Hooray!  My Pebeo drawing gum finally came in!  This time, I used a couple of plastic palette knives to apply the gum - and I could make the lines super skinny!  It takes about 15 minutes for this liquid drawing gum to dry, so I painted three at once.  By the time I was done with the last, the first was dry enough to wash in the watercolors.  I then moved on to the other two, finishing the background painting.  The first painting was then dry - the watercolors must be dry before rubbing off the Pebeo.  I got a little rubber cement remover to make this process easier, and it worked great!  It was also faster this time to remove, probably because I knew what to expect, and how much pressure to apply.  I then added more colors to the newly rubbed areas......and I think I may have gotten carried away!  These colors are pretty wild and vibrant - not at all my normal palette!!  Hmmmm, well, I can always tone the others down tomorrow!  It is so fun to play with the colors and design with the drawing gum - I have so many ideas that I want to try!  This crazy painting makes 533 in 533 days :)