Softly softly

I've been painting rocks, stones and mountains for the last few months. But now, of course, I feel the pull of water vapour, clouds, waves. I think I will forever feel that tug between the elements. It will take a little while to adjust. I did little thumbnails (little for me, half a quarter sheet each) on cold press paper first. It was wishy washy, any movement in pigments disappearing in the long drying time. This was a wet day in November in Ireland. Nothing dries. Then I moved to Fabriano Unica print paper, and the pigments were happy, they danced on the sheet, and they made me happy too! I didn't have any reference image or sketch. Just let the water guide me.

Reminded of how quickly paint dries in a warm house!

Three weeks back from Cill Rialaig, and this is my first time going back to watercolour and to the many photos I took. It's like my brain is needing time to process the experience before I can translate it into paintings. And also, I've been busy since. Ranelagh Arts Exhibition for Dublin Sketchers, One Week 100 People, visiting my mother, catching up with videos from Geoff Allen's class on Vivify, and everyday life of course. I went too dark again in my clouds. And, although I thought the paper was still damp enough for me to add more paint, it dried unevenly. It was quite warm in my little studio. More practice needed!

Which way to go?

Rock, Paper, scissors? Rocks, sky, sea? I'm struggling to decide which to explore next from my adventures in Cill Rialaig? I was looking at waves a few days ago, thinking this is what I wanted to do. But today, it was clouds. Let's have a look at clouds then.

All because I am looking at Geoff Allen's class on Vivify and he was using a mix of Vermillion, ultramarine and cobalt. I had to try it, and it's gorgeous! 

Big reminder to myself - work out the shapes and design before throwing paint to paper!

Cill Rialaig - paintings - Set 1

First sunrise. So dramatic. Here are my impressions. 

Water and Air

 Water and Air. Or Sea and Sky. Another exploration of the elements.