Monday, December 29, 2008

Observations

This is a bit of a teaser, rather like one of those cropped images where you have to guess what it is. Except that I do give you a link to the answer at the end of the post.

I've been playing with watercolours lately, trying to bring myself up to speed and refresh the old brain cells as how to do this. Drying time illustrates my impatience with the medium and I sometimes rush things and end up with mud. This time I forced myself to set it aside and work on other things while it was drying as I wanted transparent colours to give the delicate appearance of the fish's skin.

I was asked how I could see the colours in the skin. To me, it was quite clear and its difficult to explain to someone who isn't seeing the same colours at all. So what makes me capture these particular colours to use and not others?

For the full image and more details on fish and watercolours, visit my post on Watermarks.

9 comments:

Anita said...

Lovely shimmering quality to your fish. And no mud here! I can see how mud would be very easy to get with watercolour but did read a good article in the latest Artist Magazine about a watercolourist who says he paints with mud and then just adds to it as he goes along - lovely paintings too!

Robyn Sinclair said...

One of my favourite subjects, unfortunately as they lose their wonderful colours so quickly out of the water it's very difficult to find any suitable to paint where I am.

This is absolutely beautiful, Jeanette! I'm loving your explorations into watercolour.

Jeanette Jobson said...

Mud painting? I vaguely recall reading something about that too. And I'm sure is quite feasible as you can create with coffee or red wine. I guess then it doesn't matter if you dip your brush in it. :)

I agree Robyn, fish are difficult to find that are really fresh anymore and their sheen and colours disappear so rapidly.

I'm enjoying seeing what I can create with watercolours again.

Laurel Neustadter said...

I immediately thought "fish eye". I went and looked at the entire fish ... the colors are awesome. Very beautiful. I tagged you for the new meme "5 a Day" on my blog. No obligation, of course. Only if you have the time and interest.

Billie Crain said...

you achieved iridescense! the fish is wonderful!

one tip to avoid mud...use a limited palette with colors that combine well with each other. it's a trial and error process but it works. btw, the inevitable palette muck is great for shading and shadows.

Jo Castillo said...

These fish are lovely. Nice new book, too. New equipment and paper are great!

Jeanette Jobson said...

Thanks Laurel. I love using blues, they're so soothing. I'll try to add the new meme but sometimes am not great at passing it on.

Billie, I so value your advice on watercolours as you're so good at them. I've found that less is often more with w/c and harmonizing colours work well. I'll keep the mud in mind for shadows. :)

Thanks Jo. There is something so satisfying about new materials isn't there?

Nothing to See said...

Fantastic. Your work is lovely. I really enjoy it.

Kosmos said...

wow that's fantastic....



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