Rock formations

I may be getting near the end of this series - went a bit crazy with pastel on top of watercolour. Didn't work out. I might glue some paper on top.

It might also be that we're in the dark days of winter and I can't see a thing in my studio. The current bulb is not strong enough. I need a daylight bulb.

 

Maybe another view to try?

I thought I was done with this series, but I am going through my photos and I keep finding views that inspire me to paint. And I'm having fun with textures and markmaking. This one isn't looking like much yet, I'll have to figure out how to arrange the composition. I might go on Google Maps to go on this narrow road again and see how I can arrange the elements to create a bit more drama.

Another look at that landscape - am I done?

I keep thinking that I'm done with these views of Beara, yet each time, I find something new that excites me. This turn in the road, as you drive up after leaving Allihies behind you. I just love it. I pulled over to the side of the road, and took it all in. I took lots of photos and a few videos. I painted this one from a video which I kept on a loop. I hope my painting conveys that feeling of joy that I felt. It was February, but the light was amazing, as is often the case in Ireland - better light in winter than summer.

 

Tea and Lemon

A mix of old and new. I do love that teapot, although it's probably never been used. And these bowls were a treat to myself before Christmas. Well, they were not expensive, but I do love Japanese bowls with cats! And we had lemons and limes for my non-alcoholic gin an tonic. The lime looks more like a nut of some sort - it was quite small and dark, you'll have to believe me. But I have never really cared about accuracy in my drawing - for many artists, drawing is a form of communication. For me, it's about capturing a memory for myself - as long as I know what the drawing was about, I'm happy! It's taken me many years to reach that understanding about drawing - never too old to learn!

Happy Little Squares

If in doubt, Faye Bridgwater's little sketch square come to the rescue. Great to explore colour and composition. Although I don't paint in a square format, so I don't translate these into actual paintings. Yet. But they are so much fun. Ideal for a time when you don't feel like painting, but you want to do something all the same!

My only problem is that I didn't write down the colours. I'm not sure what brown I used. Was it Mars Brown or Imidazolone Brown (I'm not even sure I've spelt that one right)? And did I use Moonglow or Indanthrene blue? Looking at further experiments, I am leaning towards Moonglow. All that means is that I will have to explore some more!

But the Umber and Mauve Neocolor definitely add a buzz to these colours. And I love it!

A closer look at those rocks.

Using the same colours again (and a light blue Neocolor that makes me very happy), zooming in on some remnants of a stone wall that appears in the landscape, b.ehind the tall grasses. And I do love a long format

And more swatches

 I'm pretty sure the yellow is Permanent Yellow Deep (Holbein), but I didn't write it down, so I'm not 100% sure. It could be Quin Gold, but I don't think it is. The other two colours are Moonglow (Daniel Smith) and Lavender (Daniel Smith)

I'm really enjoying combining watercolour with Neocolor crayons. And of course, the little squares win my vote every time. They're not trying to be anything. They just are - happy. With lots of dragging, scratching, dry brush, little dots, and a beige mix that I love - will have to try and reproduce that again!

How I see Beara

There's always a build-up. Feeling like I'm going through the motions. And then, boom, when I'm painting with Shelley, two paintings pop out of nowhere. Perfect state of flow. Exactly what I wanted. Let's see if I can push it further?

Details

At the Hairdresser's

Passing the time while my colour is cooking. I like the blind drawing best. Always.

 

And this, something I rarely do, draw from imagination. As you can see, my imagination is pretty dull, so that's why I draw from observation instead.

If in doubt, colour swatch, and other random colour swatches

Colour swatches for days when I don't have enough energy for much else! There's been a lot of those lately! Plus, while I'm writing this, we're on the shortest day of the year, it's cold and windy outside, so there is little opportunity to go out and paint. So, despite having tons of photos I could be inspired by, I'm really not seeing much colour around me. By the time I'm posting this of course, I will be excited with each day getting longer and I will be planning for the year ahead. So I will be glad I have these beautiful colours to play with (all of these done with Holbein watercolours, bought from Crafty Studio, the best little art shop in Dublin!

Permanent Yellow Deep, Quin Magenta, Phthalo Blue (red shade) - love all these mixes

Same three colours again - such a rainbow of mixes!

Here, I've got Indanthrone blue, Phthalo blue and Permanent Yellow Deep. Love how the two blue interact.

 

Beara exploration

Trying lots of different things, all on the theme of the geology of Beara. Love those rocks. Love that little dot of pink among all the grey/cobalt green rocks. Probably should have put it a little higher in the composition. But that's ok. I do like the fact that I have to live with my decisions in watercolour. I would hate to be forever adding layers to cover up mistakes. I take ownership of what my hands decides to draw or paint.

Doodles

I need to take a little bit of a break from projects - I do love doodling and making all sorts of marks, inspired by everything around me. Some of these shapes and colour combinations make me very happy

Expressing Anger

I was angry with Louise Fletcher's  reply to my feedback (remember, "it's not me, it's you" and "I only do things my way". So I decided to paint out the anger. It felt good. Watercolour and Artgraf.

Exploring - two extremes

Both extremes appeal to me - lots of marks and colours, and a very muted, simple feeling. I wonder if something in between will excite me as much?

Exploring in sketchbooks - in Artgraf and watercolour, plus Neocolor

Black Artgraf is great for expressing feelings on paper. And Neocolor too. Considering that I'm coming down with something and watched three episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer today, I'm pretty happy with how these turned out. All done in sketchbooks - a simple way of keeping everything in one place. Though I also like to pin things in front of me so I can be inspired when I'm painting.

I've added som mauve ultramarine Neocolor to the mix (it's basically Lavender). Love it. It's a colour you see a lot in the landscape of the West Coast.

Exploring an idea

I am writing this in early December. I've just finished a big online course. I am tired (and emotional). Maybe I need to give myself a little bit of time. But that's not how my brain works. So, here I am exploring ideas around how to paint the landscape of the Beara peninsula. Right now, it's just throwing ideas on paper and see what excites me. I found that nothing was exciting me today. My studio room is North facing and the light is so bad at this time of the year. Maybe I need a daylight lamp? Both for painting and for keeping grey moods at bay. Yet, I was completely absorbed while applying paint to paper and I am seeing things I like now that I'm looking at them on the computer screen.

Squares to look at colours. I did these directly in my studio book, but now I want to cut them up so I can look at them individually!

Using a sketchbook to play with ideas. I have a beautiful Etchr sketchbook that has been languishing on the shelf for ages. Today was the day for it to fulfill its destiny. Felt good while I was working. Need to see it when we have daylight again before I decide if I like it or not

I like these bits. Ideas? Paint a few square paintings. Composition is easy in a square.

Cutting more little cards

A few more cards from my diary painting. Time now to start a new diary painting. I think I will work in halfsheet. Full sheet is just to big for the space I have at home.

I do love these squiggles.