Yesterday, I told you I was almost done posting photos of my trip to see my mom in the Bay Area, except for some pictures of some pictures. I always do some painting when I am at my mom’s house. I am trying to get her interested in watercolor painting… not that she needs a new hobby… she is over 90 and is more busy and active than most people I know.
So I took some pictures of the art I brought with me, and some of the ones I keep up there to work on, but I thought I might take this opportunity to give you a little art lesson if you think you might like to try watercolor painting.
The hardest part of watercolor painting is not the painting itself, although watercolors can be tricky, because unlike oil paints, or other thick paints, you can’t always paint over mistakes… and watercolors tend to run and bleed into each other unless you let each new color dry all the way, which slows you down. Also, watercolors can ruin the paper you are painting on, especially if you aren’t using the right kind of paper.
But the part that most people find difficult is the sketch, the drawing, the putting down on the paper whatever it is that you intend to paint. I have previously suggested doing geometric shapes, and taking a modern art approach where you do not worry about the form. Because not everybody can draw a house or a horse of a flower or a face or a mountain.
A few years back, I found a coloring book about the civil war. I study history, and military history intrigues me. So I bought the book, and I have been using it to practice my watercolor painting…
Once you take away the worry of having to do a drawing yourself, it is really just adding color where it needs to go. This is an excellent was to get used to painting trees and backgrounds, playing with color and shading. This book was not made for watercolors, and the paper is not the right kind, but I have fun with it, and that is important when doing art.
I love the way a pictures begins to come alive, to pop out of the page as you add the colors. The book had some text on each page, so I came up with a clever idea. I cut the text off. This led me to the idea of ripping the corners of the pages. Then I sort of singe them with a cigarette lighter. This makes them look like they were actually done by some civil war soldier during the war… sort of… I haven’t finished doing this to all of them, but you get the idea.
Please bear in mind that these are all still unfinished. This is just to get your creative juices flowing.
If you have enough fun painting some pictures drawn by someone else, you can think about teaching yourself to draw, right?
If you look at the picture above, you might notice that there are different shades of gray on the Confederate uniforms. The only real skill needed with painting is shading, and adding a sense of depth. You can see where the color needs to be just a bit darker… inside the folds of cloth, or under an ammunition box on a belt. Imagine where the sun is in the sky, and just add a little more black, or use a darker shade of gray, if your paint set has it.
Painting on finished sketches is also a good way to practice doing color washes with a big brush to fill in the sky. I always start with a light blue wash, and then add streaks of color to it while it is still wet… this can lead to some beautiful backgrounds, as long as you don’t get carried away and turn your paper into mush. Do the big background washes first. It is hard to go back and do it around every object in the foreground. So paint the grass, water, or sky first.
There, I threw in one original painting of the civil war that I did with my own sketch. It isn’t the best painting in the world, but it is colorful, and it sort of captures a feeling of a battle. And art is really all about feelings.
Pouring My Art Out 
What a lovely gift you have given us!! I absolutely love these and appreciate your explanations of colors and shading and depth. The edges on the pages definitely add to the mood of the paintings. WOW! Very impressive. 🙂
Now you are making me blush again…
I love these, love seeing your art more just awesome! Have you thought of putting up on Redbubble??
not really… I would need help… ha
Well you know where to find it 😀
yes… I do… little sister…
exactly 😉
yay
I must say that this was really cool. I totally buy the idea as a good way to do art and still have great fun. It is also a good way to stir up creativity.
exactly
Yeah.
yup
I did a picture like your first one, and it looked almost identical. Well, in my mind it did. If you looked at it from a certain angle and in a certain light it looked very good. That was, from behind and in the dark.
Yours are excellent
I just dabble, but thanks.
Nice!!! I never knew you were into military history. For fun sometime, check out two other artists who specialize in Civil War/military history. Google “Keith Rocco painter” and “Gary Casteel sculptor”.
and that Kunstler guy… I love his paintings. Did you see my pot of my civil war diorama I did? Or all the pictures of me as famous or not so famous military characters?
Mort Kunstler is THE MAN! I don’t think I saw the diorama one — I’ll have to backtrack and see it.
Ever consider taking part in a Civil War reenactment? I bet you’d enjoy it.
I want to… but that cost real money…
Using a coloring book. Wwhat a great idea and it could be a great therapeutic tool too with both children and adults. To be able to paint without needing drawing skills. Very neat. I know it’s like I am ignoring the fact they were meant to be colored with crayons to being with, but to use pencils or paints is different and gives a more accomplished feeling to the process. Speaking of art, (Lower case “a”, not you. You wish.), be the friend you are and go check out my latest post on art. You don’t have to comment or like, just visit. It’s a Dad thing. You know. I promise to follow you. Oh! I’m already doing that. Well…go anyway.
I have been bad about stopping by other blogs… there is so much going on right now… I will try to be better.
Don’t give it a thought, Art. Now that I have one I know how it is. That’s is why I suggested the curb appraisal approach.
I always feel bad for my lack of ability to spread myself thinner
Art, I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed our Watercolour 101 class today. Seriously, that was awesome. Your idea to use the colouring book is brilliant. They should make colouring books specifically for watercolour so you don’t have to worry about the paper. Thanks for this.
I just want people to not be intimidated by art… thank you.