May Lily

"May Lily" 5 by 7, Original Watercolor Painting

 

I finally got a good scan of this painting. I used my new light tent and I think I like it. I did a comparison between the light tent and the scanner. For making reproduction prints, the light tent is definitely the best.

 

This painting is available for purchase in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested.

 

Next, I think I'm going to work on some larger paintings. Maybe 16 by 20? Should be fun! :)

 



New Painting

I recently moved my "studio" up to my sewing room and have been painting a bit.

 

 My new set up. It's not my favorite place to work because of the lack of natural light, but it will work.

 

This is the watercolor painting I've been working on the past couple days. I overworked it a bit but it still came out quite nice. I will take a proper photo soon. I ordered a light tent for photographing art so I'm anxious to receive it and give it a try. :)



Day 15

Today's photograph is one that I took last weekend. I bought these lilies from a local florist and tried propping them against different things to get some interesting photos. I've never seen lilies this big before! They're so bright and fun.

I decided that I'm going to stop this "painting challenge" for now. I have just been posting photographs, which is fun, but wasn't my original intent. I am just too super busy at the moment to paint. I started a painting today, but I don't know when I'll have another opportunity to work on it. I'm going to be participating in "Creativity Bootcamp" in a couple weeks, and it's 2 weeks long. During this "training" I will be painting everyday for 2 weeks and it will wrap up this challenge perfectly. It begins June 6th, and I'm very excited about it.

Today's Quote: "The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions." Alfred Lord Tennyson

Day 12 - Painting Challenge

I finished the painting I started yesterday and named it, "Purple Polka Dot Petals." This painting was done using a real lily (still life) and had to be done quickly because the flower was beginning to wilt. I've actually never painted a flower from life before (at least not with this much detail), and it was interesting! The perspective I chose was to look down into the flower. I did make what I think was a mistake though, I put down a layer of white pastel first, and that seemed to have an effect on all the layers I put down after. I was hoping it would just make the colors pop a little more, but it ended up doing more than that. It didn't change the outcome of the painting, but it made the process slightly more difficult. I won't be doing that again.

I'm not sure what's next. I've been really inspired lately by Billy Showell, a botany artist. I've been reading some of her books, and I think I may try some realism in watercolor. We'll see.. I have about a million ideas and choosing what to do next is a challenge! :)

Today's Quote: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein

Goodbye Lilies and Bees

That's right, I sold my very first original watercolor painting yesterday on Etsy. I know to a lot of people that seems insignificant, but I think every artist remembers the very first piece they've ever sold. I have sold other hand made goods, but this is my first actual painting. I was so excited! I thought it would be difficult to part with one of my original works, but I know it's going to a good home. To think of my painting in someones home is amazing! That someone would want to own a piece of my art is just an honor to me. Of all the incredible artist's out there! Anyway, I am thrilled by this sale, and wanted to share my excitement with all of you! Have a great weekend!