The WT challenge was to determine if one is "a tortoise or a hare". I know that I am a hare when it comes to creating most cards.....I rarely "ponder" or "labor". This card took me about an hour from start to finish(Linda also asked that we time ourselves to see how long it DID take to create a card for this challenge). I find watercoloring a very quick way to color an image...and I like it that way for myself.....I go for a looseness and transparency and if I overwork it, that is lost. This image is more "coloring book" style than the no-line technique which I prefer......you can see the stamped lines here.
My hints(Linda asked us to share if we had any) are two: 1. Save the whites(highlights) and 2. use a heat gun/hair dryer to dry something quickly when one is pleased with it so it doesn't run any more and/or to make definition between elements. I'm not patient enough for a lot of air drying. Always remember watercolors dry a shade lighter than when they are wet....don't be afraid of those "good darks". : )
TFL
Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 GMT Views: 2892
Favorited:15
Registered: February 21, 2007 Location: Bay City, MICHIGAN Posts: 17556
Wed, Mar 25, 2015 @ 9:03 PM
Bless your heart for sharing these wonderful hints for water coloring well!Your irises look like they are under a spotlight the way you "saved your whites" - just gorgeous and so natural looking, and they remind me of my Mom's garden full of these, most of my life!! So striking!!
------------------------------ SUE aka GREENIE - Twisted Sistah Handmade cards because..No one displays an email on their mantle, or saves a FB post in a box of treasures! Nothing is impossible with God!
Registered: March 31, 2008 Location: Eastlake, OH Posts: 22598
Wed, Mar 25, 2015 @ 9:03 PM
Although you say this is not a no line coloring, I love the definition it gave to the petals! Since your lines are not harsh at all, it still appears to be no line. You are a hare? With the way you paint? You produce these works of art in an hour! That's unbelievable! This is gorgeous, Sallie! The shading is so beautifully done! Thanks for the tips too but your skill brings your images to life!
Registered: December 15, 2011 Location: Abilene TX Posts: 11275
Wed, Mar 25, 2015 @ 9:08 PM
Amazing! I so admire your talent and it seems impossible this took you such a short time. I would be agonizing over it longer than that, LOL! This is stunning, Sallie! Wonderful colors!
------------------------------ JodyLynn - "Love me - love my cats!" DTGD12, DTGD14, HYCCT12, HYCCT13, HYCCT14, HYCCT15, Love Fest 2013, Love Fest 2014 CAS and CC guest designer QFTD 258
Registered: November 7, 2006 Location: Willamette Valley Oregon Posts: 34500
Wed, Mar 25, 2015 @ 9:37 PM
This one took my breath away...and I would have guessed you as the hare. It's me, the ponderer! The depth you get with watercolor is lovely...those yellow 'bits' look as if I'd feel chenille if I reached out to touch. So you and beautiful, Sallie.
------------------------------ Susan~~~One4Joydaily I'm a FAN CLUB member, U? MY GALLERYof visual Delights MY BLOG
Registered: June 29, 2004 Location: Sugar Land. Texas Posts: 79458
Wed, Mar 25, 2015 @ 9:46 PM
Such a beauty, and thanks for the tips.
------------------------------ LizThe joy of the LORD is my strength.Right Brain Madness --My blogProud member of the redDivasKSS certified multi-step stamperFan Club member since 2004
Registered: October 21, 2010 Location: in the okanagan in b.c. canada Posts: 13012
Wed, Mar 25, 2015 @ 9:50 PM
I am at a loss how to start....AMAZING. Your coloring is fantastic with a soft look. Like others said there ARE lines but nice and simple, just enough to help kind of separate, but your coloring does the rest...TY so much for the tips, so sweet of you to share, I have not water colored much lately, but this sure inspires me to do so....DH would also just LOVE this as they are one of his fav. flower. TFS...|:0)
------------------------------ We as people are raindrops of colorful ink , falling down Crisp and Clear, each a different shade more vibrant then the last, but once we realize at the bottom of an endless abyss we all fall into the same inkpot forming one color, only then can we come together as one My son.
Registered: October 19, 2007 Location: Packer Country, WI Posts: 71910
Wed, Mar 25, 2015 @ 9:59 PM
Beautiful creation Sallie! Thanks for the great tips. You are amazing....I posted the thread at 9:00, and you painted, assembled your card, photographed, and uploaded by 10:05. You are not the hare, you are the energizer bunny! Thanks for playing.
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni Proud Fan Club Member Splitcoast Challenge Hostess Teapot Tuesday TEAm
Registered: April 18, 2011 Location: Melbourne, Aus Posts: 51844
Wed, Mar 25, 2015 @ 10:26 PM
Sallie this is another watercolour masterpiece and you did it in an hour!!!! You are not only beautiful artist, you are a speed of light beautiful artist!!!
------------------------------ Susie
Please don't take your organs to heaven - heaven knows we need them here.
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni SCS Gallery Moderator Splitcoast Challenge Hostess Teapot Tuesday TEAm
Registered: July 27, 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 131453
Thu, Mar 26, 2015 @ 12:28 AM
Great tips! I need to use the dryer one more - only I'd really have to bring up our spare hair-dryer since I use a DIY heat gun which scorches paper if I use it too much. When I worked in fine art supplies import and distribution, sometimes DH and I were at demos by an artist who used the paints we supplied (Ireland's equivalent of Bob Ross). He used to use a hair-dryer during his demos, we always had to make sure there was a power point nearby when we were setting up for him.
And after that digression - what a beautiful iris. The beards/beelines look textured!!
Registered: July 19, 2010 Location: Conway, MA Posts: 7513
Thu, Mar 26, 2015 @ 2:49 AM
Beautiful irises Sallie! I, too, love the subtle, defined lines around this image. It really showcases the character of the flower petals. Such finesse you have in your watercolor techniques, thank you for sharing a few pointers.
------------------------------ Julie Proud Fan Club Member, CC595 Favorite, CC March 2017 Guest Designer, SC Winter 2018/19 Guest Designer
Registered: April 6, 2006 Location: Las Vegas, baby! Posts: 14931
Thu, Mar 26, 2015 @ 3:43 AM
Another of the gorgeous creations that we've come to expect from you! I am so grateful for the tips, too - I used to paint and am baby-stepping my way back into it, but I'm afraid I'm a victim of "use it or lose it", so your tips are very helpful. Thank you!
------------------------------ ~ Sue Happy for no reason...