I saw the challenge last night and watched the video. This WC Newbie is not ready yet to start with a blank canvas and freehand anything even something as simple as a daisy. So I watched a few more "how to watercolor white flower" videos on you tube and then googled white flowers just to look more closely at how the shadows seemed to fall.
Don't send the challenge police because I need to start with a stamped outline for a sense of security if I'm gonna do this at all. I recently bought DOX Milled Lavender - a super pale color bordering on gray white since neither of my craft stores had the linen everyone says they use for no line WC. Stamped my Unity image on Strathmore 300 WC paper and sat looking at it . . . Wet a petal, colored it with white (which looked kind of muddy beige to me ) then added a bit of pale green where I felt the shadow should be. [I started with white in hopes that the shadows would blend better and not look so harsh which was not appealing to me] I worked my way through the petals one at a time until I had what looked like a blobby mess. My thought now, "This is the first and LAST time I'm ever painting a white flower!" tossed it on the desk and went to bed . . . .
When I got up this morning, surprisingly, my dried blobs look more like flowers but were hard to see unless the light hit just right so I decided to float some color around the outside of my flowers. My thought now . . ."maybe I can save this" . . . .I put ONE drop of eggplant reinker in a shot glass spritzed in some water to dilute it a bit then set about wetting an area of my piece with clean water then tapping a bit of the eggplant near the petals until I covered most of the outer area. Better - but in the light of day of day I think there may be too much green. I fear I am about to commit what is probably a MAJOR SIN ! I pick up the tiniest dab of my diluted eggplant, smear it on a plate, add a dab of dark blue and more water - I re-wet a few areas of my flowers that seem overwhelmed by green and introduce this new color. White will probably never be my go to color in this medium, but I am at least happy enough with it now to actually make it into a card rather than trash it and trust me this "waste not want not" girl has a hard time trashing anything . . .
My final thought before posting this morning . . ." If I'm gonna keep doing these challenges, maybe I should think about investing in some better quality paints and let the $2.00 tray of kids watercolors I've used for all my projects thus far, for my grandsons!" LOL - - - The bigger problem is, of necessity, I've figured out how to force the cheap stuff to do what I want and I'd probably muck up the expensive stuff . . . . .
Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2020 GMT Views: 1229
Favorited:7
Registered: July 9, 2008 Location: Stars Fell on Alabama Posts: 74958
Wed, Aug 05, 2020 @ 8:11 AM
Beautifully done. I didn't paint my flowers, just painted around them. I love your lavender color. Your flowers look amazing. So glad you kept this. Left you a message in the forum.
------------------------------ My Blog---My Gallery---My PinterestI'm a Punchkateer! (Prez) FOREVERDirty Dozen Alumni2014 CAS Spring DT--- Inspiration Challenge Co- Hostess 12/02/17-12/28/19 Watercolor Wednesday Design Team Hebrews 13:2Brenda
Wow! This is fabulous! I am so excited that you are playing along in the challenges. It's PERFECTLY ok to stamp an image for as long as you wish! Even when we have freehand projects. I would have stamped a daisy if I owned one like the one my daughter drew for me. So you don't have to apologize at all! I love your eggplant shadows! Stunning! So up until this week, the paints that I have are cheapy ones. They are watercolor but they smell like tempura so I am wondering how much tempura type pigment is in them. A friend sent me a gift of Daniel Smith Watercolor which is what I used this week. The paints definitely make a difference even with my inexpert use! Sorry, I wrote a book but I just want you to know that I love that you are participating in the challenges and making gorgeous art!
Registered: October 19, 2007 Location: Packer Country, WI Posts: 72090
Wed, Aug 05, 2020 @ 8:32 AM
This is drop dead gorgeous!!!! Watching the other videos showed how the white petals pick up colors from their surroundings. You did this beautifully. Impressed how you mixed the colors...fun...right? Your eggplant bg brought it all together. You should be so proud of this creation. Using a stamp just gives you a little more confidence. Happy that you joined us this week, and gave us this beauty. Hugs
Registered: May 1, 2008 Location: Beautiful Wisconsin Posts: 12492
Wed, Aug 05, 2020 @ 9:53 AM
GASP....you will be amazed at what quality colors will produce for you if you do this amazing work with cheap pans. I'm astounded at this gorgeous creation. I'm so glad you didn't throw it away. I can't say enough!!
------------------------------ a little bit of this and that there is no thrill quite like doing something you didn't know you could.
Registered: August 30, 2006 Location: Saugus, Massachusetts Posts: 65251
Wed, Aug 05, 2020 @ 10:39 AM
Wow - you sure learned how to play wonderfully with the colors - I agree, it sometimes looks much better after drying (an issue for me because I don't want to WAIT until it dries!) This is absolutely orgeous - I need to try the outline stamping as well. I wouldn't buy expensive paints until you know you are going to use them a lot - your cheap pans seem to work perfectly for you!
------------------------------ Julia Aston Proud member of SCS Fan Club and Dirty Dozen Alumni, former DT member on Color Challenge My Blog
Registered: March 8, 2005 Location: Halfway between Dallas and Houston Posts: 24020
Wed, Aug 05, 2020 @ 3:04 PM
Like you I wanted an image to start with. But you chose a multi flower one with lots of leaves! And you still pulled off a fabulous card! I love the greens on your white leaves but I'm sure glad you added that eggplant in between flowers etc. This is gorgeous. You could just upgrade one step like I did with cheap tubes from Hobby Lobby.
------------------------------ Proud Fan Club Member
Dirty Dozen Alumni
"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
Registered: January 20, 2016 Location: Freetown, Massachusetts Posts: 31442
Wed, Aug 05, 2020 @ 3:51 PM
I know it was so hard, wasn't it, Linda! But we powered through. I'm so enjoying learning to watercolor with you. I love the subtle greens and purples in your flower with that bold purple background. You did an awesome job and I love the sentiment!
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Splitcoast Challenge Hostess Proud Fan Club Member
Registered: January 27, 2010 Location: Southern Ontario, Canada Posts: 52018
Wed, Aug 05, 2020 @ 6:01 PM
You have done an amazingly beautiful card Linda. Love how you went looking for colours to use and indeed you picked well. Awesome card and you are doing so well at this. Relax and enjoy.