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Sunday, April 08, 2007

Wishful Thinking


"Other People's Stuff"
(watercolor on 300# hot pressed Arches)**

From a snapshot taken on our quick trip to Destin to visit the Dear Daughter a couple of months ago. The weather was warm and beautifully sunny, and we got to spend about an hour on the beach. Oh, to be there now! The cold spell that came through our area two days ago (and is expected to last for another couple of days) has destroyed the blossoms on the dogwoods and azaleas, which were both reaching a fantastic peak. Crepe myrtle bushes had begun to put out leaves, which now look like wilted salad that has been slung into the branches. Most of the trees that had begun to leaf out look okay -- I think it was just the very tenderest leaves that were so badly hurt.

Thankfully, I had taken a few photos of the dogwoods the day before the weather turned so cold...


The pink dogwood flowers were intense this year, not at all pale and washed out. Until now, at least.

The white ones, of course, were at that particular stage of perfection that makes EVERYONE break out their cameras and start taking photos!



**Now that I see the watercolor painting on screen, I see that I need to darken some areas in the water, at the base of the central wave. The yellow towel probably needs to have a nice highlight scrubbed out, too. Originally, the far left beach chair was one of those short, "down on the ground" chairs, and was navy blue (based on the photo). I painted it that way, and then realized that the smaller chair just looked like I drew it wrong. I was all for tossing the painting and starting over, but my WC instructor insisted that I scrub out waves and just make the chair larger -- changing the color from dark blue to pink was my idea -- the towel changed from a dull red to yellow. Really, it's amazing what you can do with the right paper. This is just a small painting, and I think I'm going to do it, or something like it, again larger.
By the way, right now I'm working on this, which is not turning out like I'd originally envisioned -- not at all! It may be a do-over, too.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cold spell huh? Well we're having a cold spell in Fl right now. It's been in the 50/s-60's in the evening and early am. It was only in the mid 70's today. We're so spoiled.

As for color sense, you've got that right here. I have absolutely no color sense. I might as well be color blind. I just grap whatever's there so here's rather amusing to hear people say I have such a good color sense. Amusing but very nice. Thank you!

mARTa said...

wow Linda! This is great! I love the composition, the colors remind me of teh Carribean (sp?) and I just love it! Happy Easter. marta

Emma Pod said...

You did such a nice job with this painting. The water and the wave look so real - good colors. And I think your chairs and towels are very good. It's amazing that you were able to make the changes you described...it give me hope! Sorry about your cold spell - the flower photos are pretty.

Teri said...

Wow Linda, this is just so beautiful!! I feel like I could dive right in and then sit on the chair and relax!! Love it.

I am anxious to see the chickadee when he is done.

Unknown said...

I think you were right to go with the pink in that chair on the left - it really makes the painting cohesive. I will take your word on the darkening under the wave and the highlight on the towel - I think it looks great as it is.

I'm interested to see where the chickadee goes - what's bothering you about it?

annie said...

I love dogwoods and have been meaning to get out and photograph some but have not done so.

I like your watercolor too!

Linda said...

Thanks to you all!
Janey -- quit bragging about your weather -- please notice that Teri was polite enough not to rub it in that HER weather is wonderful...
:-D (and you DO have a great sense of color -- it must just be purely instinctual!)
Marta -- the Gulf coast of Florida reminds me of the Caribbean, too -- and the colors really are that clear!
Emma -- I was amazed that I could scrub that much out, too. Actually, I ended up tearing part of the paper, and it was heavy enough that I could sand it down and keep going. Amazing!
Teri and Diahn -- the chickadee. Sigh. He is not what I had envisioned. Sometimes a painting just gets away from you, and mine seem to be doing that more and more often lately! I'll post him when he's done, and probably will also post the do-over (it may be in pastel rather than WC, though). Keep me in your thoughts with this one, because it is driving me BATTY!
Annie -- What? You've not gotten out and taken photos of the spring flowers, and you're taking a photo class? :-D Get out there -- it's nearly summer where you are!
Thanks to you all!

Jana Bouc said...

Wow! I love that watercolor--it's just gorgeous and the colors are so tropical and sunny. I've never been able to capture the sea so I admire what you've done--it's so free and yet reads perfectly.

Nancy said...

Linda - I love your beach scene - we were through your area returning from FL this past weekend and I would love to be in one of those chairs on the dog beach with Barkley at Fort DeSoto right about now - it is freezing here!

Lindsay said...

This is a lovely memory painting of your visit. I'm amazed at what you could scrub out and put back in. Lovely colors and it really does look both FLORIDA and like family!

Carole said...

This is a beautiful watercolour - it just exudes warmth, freshness and fun! Very well done. I must admit, I can't see anything at all wrong with it.

Anonymous said...

I was at the beach the other day and I thought of your painting. It's been very windy and very sunny and you captured that kind of day perfectly here.

Anonymous said...

Dear Linda,

what a pleasure to find your illustrated blog and your watercolors. Let me invite you to participate in my watercolor project: www.365regulardays.com.
best,
Fernando

Unknown said...

Linda the watercolor is wonderful.
We had snow for Easter and all my daffodils fell to the ground.

Step back from the chickadee then go back to it and some more work. you justmight surprise yourself.

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

I love your beach scene....colors are lovely and the waves are beautiful. A great painting!
Ronell

caseytoussaint said...

Oh, I love your beach sketch! Everything about it, the colors, the composition, you can just feel those sea breezes. It makes me want to be there now!

mrana said...

Thw watercolour is gorgeous! Your use of colour is, again, superb, and I love the way you've painted those waves ... I'd like to be there too!

Anonymous said...

what a wonderful watercolor! i absolutely love the way you have captured the waves and the sand...does make one wish for a summer day by the sea.

we are soooo far away from dogwood season, so thank you for posting these photos...and i know what you mean about the cold weather!

Anita Davies said...

Beautiful colours in this piece Linda...Real eye candy!

Nancy Van Blaricom said...

I love this ... you really captured a day at the beach. You are way too hard on your self.. this is great!

biteyourowntail said...

I love your deckchairs. The whole image is so alive

brian nelson said...

I love this painting. Great colors.

Deb said...

Oh how gorgeous! We had heavy frost just as ours were starting to bloom. Lost my lilacs, too.
I traveled through Knoxville this week to pick up my daughter in Cleveland for summer break. My son used to work in Knoxville. Great area!