Watercolor Newbies

Home
Australia
Melbourne, VIC
Watercolor Newbies

If you are just starting out with watercolor painting, then you've come to the right place.

I'm a watercolor newbie too and on this page I'll research and answer all your questions about how to improve as a watercolor artist.

25/07/2024

Thanks for all the encouragement on my clarinet painting which is now SOLD.
Help me decide what to paint next. Which of these 3 would you like me to do:
1. Perfume Bottle
2. Still Life
3. Benjamin Franklin bust

20/07/2024

This is my latest painting completed for my study with Evolve Artist Training. Hyper realistic style oil painting. 9x12"

This made me think of all the clarinet players I have known, especially Philip Searle and Karen Shirt .

For sale.

31/12/2022

On the easel today: a quick sketch in oils. I'm practising capturing a likeness by eye, without tracing.

I'm getting better.

This is not perfect but recognisable. Much easier in oils where you can make adjustments than in watercolour!!

And Happy New Year to you!!

27/06/2022

I visited the today where this painting is on show.

The calibre of the artwork on display is really high and I feel honored that my little piece - one of the smallest (and least expensive) there - was selected to be a part of it.

The thing is, this is not exactly how I felt at the show. When I was there, I was thinking how small my piece was, how it was tucked away in the back corner, how it wasn't as traditional as most of the pieces there, that it wouldn't sell.

I was finding reasons why it was less than. It wasn't until later today that I found perspective and was able to celebrate the achievement of having a piece in the same show as some very illustrious artists.

I used to walk past the art show when I worked at Swinburne a few years ago, and never dreamed I would one day have a piece on show there. I wasn't even painting then.

What have you achieved recently - however big or small? I'd love you to share with me.

23/06/2022

I'm thinking about doing another self portrait. Yes or no?

I've only done one before, but I think I would say to Vincent, that it's hard to paint yourself but it's one way to get to know yourself- and that journey is challenging however you travel.

20/06/2022

Day 81 The more I draw faces, the more I am convinced that the likeness is in the eyes. Am I right?

This is from a photo of Benedict Cumberbatch. If you block out the eyes, it looks like him, I think. The minutest difference in the shape of the eyes and the likeness is gone.

However, my drawing from sight is definitely improving which I am happy about.

14/06/2022

Both of these sketches are faces I drew from imagination. Even though my picture today still has a lot of room for improvement, the improvement I can see is really encouraging to me. The only difference between the two is learning some skills and some practice. And if that's the case, I just need to keep learning and practising.

You can do this too. Whatever you want to do in art is achievable if you learn the skills and put in the work. I am proving to myself that this is what improving as an artist is about - not talent or innate ability.

To be honest, even if I'd drawn a face from imagination 3 months ago, it would have looked more like the first picture than today's. What made the difference for me is learning about the planes of the face and Reilly Rhythms and understanding how light and shadow falls on the face. Now I have this knowledge, I can look back on my previous portraits and see what is wrong.

So do you agree? Do you think art making is a talent we were born with or a set of skills that can be learnt?

Day 75

13/06/2022

This so resonates after my last painting where if I wasn't super super careful, the colours lifted and bloomed!!

This is what makes so challenging - and so exciting.

What's your most recent fail?

10/06/2022

Day 71

This is my 5th attempt at painting Kevin. (Swipe to see my other attempts starting with the first and ending with my ref photo.)

I was aiming to get the shadow shapes right and pay attention to hard and soft edges in order to get a likeness. Although not spot on, I think (at last!) this is recognisable as him!!

So it really is worth persevering at something until you get the result you want!

What I did learn which I didn't know before, is that PB29 Ultramarine and PO36 Benz. Scarlet do not work well together - which was a problem as these were the only two colours I used besides a bit of cad red.

They kept lifting and blooming and it was impossible to put down colour next to a dry area or glaze without this happening which resulted in all the mess on the shadow side of his face. Pity because the colours they make when combined are great.

So if you have any suggestions on using them together, please pass them on!!!

09/06/2022

I've been working on 2 things in the last few weeks: getting a likeness when drawing/painting from life and practising the right values and edges to help with likeness.

All the colour has disappeared from my paintings because this is easier to do in .

It's also not easy to do in watercolour so I've been using either gouache or pencil. This is a .

And I'm focusing on self portraits because - one face at a time. I'm trying to keep it simple.

What do you think?

But I'm missing colour so look out for a colourful soon!

08/06/2022

This quote sums up my whole approach to my .

I called my account Watercolor Newbies, not only because I am sharing tips and techniques for new watercolourists but also because I want to always have an attitude that is open to learning and improving. That to me is success.

Do you find that you compare yourself to others? Is that helpful for you? What works for you to stop making comparisons?

29/05/2022

I've drawn 3 sketches of myself in the last fee days and this is the first one that looks at all like me. Do you recognise me? Swipe to see my previous attempts.

I've been doing a lot of sketching and greyscale work because I have been learning the structure of the face and it's easier to do that without colour.

I've also been diving into how to get a likeness - and feeling frustrated when I'm not getting there.

So I thought I would try drawing myself. After all, I should be familiar with my own face right!?!

Wrong.

After the first two sketches which looked like believable faces - WIN! - but not like me - BOO!; I thought I would edit the photo to make the information as simple as possible. And it worked. is right - you can create a likeness just by getting the shadow shapes right.

To do this however, I had to look and measure carefully the proportions of my face which are a little different from the 'standard' head. Thank goodness for ! Such a helpful tool.

Check out my previous post for a time lapse of the process.

And do you recognise me?

#Акварельныйпортрет #水彩肖像

Address

Melbourne, VIC

Website

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0xJ3kEFf25oriajrKxtByw

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Watercolor Newbies posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your establishment to be the top-listed Arts & Entertainment in Melbourne?