Color Creation – with Claudia Nice

Color Mixing class at Brightwood Studio. Used M. Graham watercolors, six primary colors, a warm and cool mixed the rest. Used the tube secondary colors orange, green, violet for short cuts.

I got so much out of the classes last year, that I registered for all of Claudia’s workshops. This one was the least exciting by far, but very foundational. I did walk away having had a big bunch of fun and a much deeper feel for tertiary complements and complementary shading. I am spent part of Sunday working up a background chart for another color wheel and want to rework it with punches so it looks more ‘professional’

Drawing with Joy

I want to watercolor journal but have the typical fear of using paper and making bad art. Its part of the reason I like my ring journal so I can easily destroy anything I don’t want to see again. I got a ton of cheap 140 lb cold press water color paper from Dick Blick but have had trouble working up the guts to draw on it.

It occurred to me last night that I could doodle practice on it and learn how to apply watercolor in a low stress way. I’m surprised at how much richer the colors are on nicer paper.

Last night I broke out some Joy Sikorski books: How to Draw a Radish, Clam and Witch and went to town.

Build me up Buttercup

I want to watercolor journal or travel sketch or art journal or mixed media journal. Or what ever feels good at the moment. I practiced buttercups this morning. Drew on from Claudia Nice’s book then a couple from Internet photos. This one is from the wikipedia entry on buttercups.

Need to work on my penmanship.

Pasadena

Short trip to Pasadena for my first manager’s meeting. Did a tiny bit of travel sketching. Wished I could have stayed longer to do more. Cute little town. Weird to be back after so many years from my horrible Peoplesoft training experience. I was playing EQ back then and bought my first shuffle on my birthday.

Two One: Painting in Pen, Ink and Watercolor with Claudia Nice

As you can tell, day two is a seaside landscape. Not as pleased as with the cactus yesterday but learned a lot of color mixing and watercolor technique.  Claudia Nice is the BEST!

I had the same problem as most of the other students, we were up tight about putting the rock texture in. I am going to give both of the projects another try before moving on to my own photos.

Day One: Painting in Pen, Ink and Watercolor with Claudia Nice

This is my 3rd Class with Claudia Nice and I wish I could take more this year.  I’m temped to find out what she charges for private lessons.  I like detail and realism. I find the repetitive pen strokes very relaxing.