Inspiration for future watercolours

 

Today we took Fiona's dad for a drive down a few local side roads - something he said he wanted to do on this trip. This of course provided me with the opportunity to photograph some of the ruinous buildings and doors and windows that might become the subjects for future watercolours.

My understanding is that the building in the opening photo was a very successful local store in it's day - a fact I will need to check out.

I hope you enjoy the images in the blog post.

I will need to record the locality of each of the ruins as I'm a bit prone to forgetting that by the time I get around to doing paintings of the ruins. That makes it hard when it comes to naming the works.

How gorgeous, what an achievement!!!!!

 

Following are but a few images of the setting up and opening of Fiona's solo exhibition Hame. The photo above shows the set up after we had finished but without lighting - a soft image. Fiona's works appear quiet and yet they hold so much content; and tell stories of both hardship and beauty.

Following are a few images of the process of setting up - starting with a blank room and wall. The setting up included installing the signage brought across from Australia; and putting the display table together.

And a few of the evening of the official opening - a strong local crowd, including some of our village neighbours, to hear Fiona share then background to her work and the meaning and making of the pieces.

It was a grand night - so good that the work is there to be shared and enjoyed for September.  I'm sure Fiona will say more and share more images on her blog.

Seeking inspiration

 

Over the last week or so Fiona and I have been turning down some side roads to check out ruins that could become the inspiration for a few more watercolours. Some of the images that we captured are above and below. 

I have selected the images above because they have turned out ok for my brand of watercolours once I ran them through the app to remove the background as you can see below.

Over the last few days most of our energy and time has gone into doing the signage, set up an d launch of Fiona's gorgeous exhibition; but we will no doubt get back to spending some time on watercolours.

Sometimes art is for giving

 

I have made a stash of wee metal cottages and metal stars for gifting. 

The wee Scottish cottages are 19mm long and 13mm wide - made from recycled pewter with a touch of brass. A small village of cottages is shown in the opening photo and the photo below.

Pouring the cottages can be a bit fiddly - sometime I need to do more than one melt and pour; and sometimes I need to cut and grind surplus material off. Each cottage is unique as each is cast in a one off sand mould. In the photo below you can see the imprint of the sand and imperfections of the moulding process - love it.

The stars measure about 30mm across the widest points. A couple of images of a wee 'constellation' of stars follow. As with the cottages - not every pour equals a good star - but the process is fun. Stars are a bit easier than the cottages as I'm using reusable graphite moulds.

I love being able to go into the workshop and turn out objects that I know will go to folk and hopefully will bring them a bit of joy.

Two more wee watercolours

 

I'm keeping up with my efforts to improve my knowledge of watercolour painting; and developing my skills. The parameters I have set for myself are: to do postcard size works; do works with out backgrounds; and do works that reflect our trips to the cottage in Scotland - with a focus on boats and old sheds and cottages.

In this blog are two wee watercolours: one of a couple of stranded old fishing boats; and one of a thatched stone cottage. The opening image is the finished version of the boats. Following are a couple of progress photos.

The thatched cottage images follow - first the completed work; and then some process-progress images.

I'm enjoying this medium; and know I have much to learn particularly about colour mixing etc.

Learning some techniques - watercolours

 

Some folk will know that when at the cottage in Scotland I try to do the odd watercolour of boats, ruined cottages, sheds and things. 

I have used watercolour pencils in the past; but since arriving home I have committed myself to learning a few techniques in the use of watercolour pigment blocks.  I hope to do weekly classes with a local artist and teacher Megan. An image of my work spot at Megan's is below.

In the first instance I also want to do watercolours of things where the background has been removed; and the object tends to float or be untethered. The first painting I wanted to have a go at was a boat that sits in the grass at Sandside Harbour - the altered  is below.

The original photo follows.

And the watercolour I have done is shown in the opening and following image.

I completed the painting on our dining room table - very much like it will be in Scotland.

I think I will really enjoy the learning process.