WOYWW 773 Painting a Kingfisher

Hi all,

Here's my desk for this week, painting the background for my kingfisher watercolour, trying out colours and techniques for painting feathers. I've used lots of salt into the wet paint to make it a watery background. I've some extra colours: Ultramarine turquoise, phthalo turquoise and iridescent electric blue. 

Looking at the feathers on its head, I saw the darker lines of feathers have lighter areas between so I masked these, painted the darker lines then rubbed off the masking fluid once it dried, and filled in with a lighter turquoise. It’s a bit messy, but it’s a possibility. I’ll see what Claire says on Thursday about feathers.  I haven’t tried here to match the overall colours of the feathers, just thinking about techniques. 

It seems to work just painting little Vs in the chest feathers. 

Bella's been helping me; she works hard, as you can see.

Here, she’s had her fur combed, as neatly as the gravel in a Japanese rock garden. 

Last Wednesday was, for once, a glorious spring day and we went to visit Romney Marsh Wools to buy refills of their lovely lanolin soap. They're lambing at present: So cute!

And finally ,,,

A lovely landscape...

And for this Saturday:

Take care and happy WOYWW

hugs

Lynnecrafts xx

WOYWW 772 Watercolours and busking crochet

Hi all, don’t these Wednesdays come around fast!Here’s my desk at art class last Thursday. I wish I’d cut the stem shorter on the tulip but too late now. 

Here’s the painting. I was pleased with my vase colour mix. A watery grey made from ultramarine and burnt sienna plus Amazonite from my Daniel Smith confetti cards. 

Pussy willow was tricky to do but I enjoyed it. 

This week we’re painting birds. I hope a kingfisher counts as a garden bird - there are some by the Nailbourne nearby!

I’ve done a drawing to check it’s feasible. He needs to be a bit stockier, I think. 

I’m busking the sleeves for my cardi now. 

I don’t have a pattern so I’m wrapping it round my arm every so often, as I go. I’ve only undone it once. 😄

Bella’s been very busy helping me 😹😹

 

Driving down to Folkestone for lessons is no fun now. Potholes are really bad, but I guess they are everywhere with council budgets cut by central govt and the rainy spring. 

And finally…

Take care, all and happy WOYWW 

Hugs

Lynnecrafts xxx

WOYWW 771 Flowers and crochet

Hi all, sending big hugs to all our friends who could do with one this week. 

At art class,  we’ve started spring flower studies. I have a daffodil, a purple tulip and some pussy willow. 

As they’ll change quickly, we took photos against a white sheet of paper so we can record how they are. 

My crochet cardigan is developing. 

With help from Bella

And finally…

Take care and happy WOYWW 

Hugs

Lynnecrafts xx

 

WOYWW 770 Watercolour, cats and crochet

Hi all, here’s my desk. I’m touching up my oak landscape with watercolour sample cards from Daniel Smith that I bought in a sale. The gold is lovely for highlights in the leaves. 

I’m pleased with this watercolour, especially the tree trunk, though there are always areas I could do better. I won’t use as much masking fluid next time!

I’m very impressed by my tutor, Claire Adams Sparkes. I’ve learned a lot from her, far more than from previous watercolour classes. 

She also gets us to look up watercolour exhibitions. 

I found this amazing portrait on the Scottish watercolour society’s site (here).. Isn’t he amazing? It’s by Paul Cadden. 

This week we’ll be painting daffodils, tulips and pussy willow in a vase. 

My cardigan is coming along, with supervision from Bella. 

It’s already keeping her warm! She wasn’t happy with that photo as you can barely see her. This one’s better: she sends purrs from the top of her cat tree. 

And finally 

Take care and happy WOYWW!

Hugs

Lynnecrafts xx