Watercolor Still Life Painting and Links to Resources
Painting Watercolor of Your Own Stuff
Years ago, my friend VLB returned from a trip to Mexico and gave me a hand painted bowl supported on three little feet. I put peaches in the bowl to ripen, and a still life watercolor (below) sprouted from the scene.
Tile counter grid-lines, back-lit peach orbs over curvy bowl shadows and watery reflections from an arbor on the patio outside all conspired to create a play on patterns. (Photos of the process are below.)
It was a fun little study for a larger painting, and inspiration beyond the painting to find & bake a good peach cobbler.
Artist Resources for You
- Eric Kim is an ambitious, young, talented street photographer. If you’ve not “met” him yet, this post is a perfect introduction: 40 Tips for Living Every Day Life. Skim the bold letter headers, and I’ll bet you can find at least one little directive to tuck into your thought-pocket today.
- Anna Mason is a wonderful watercolor artist in England. I’ve linked to her video tutorials on painting realistic fruit and flowers several times here, because she’s articulate & concise. A few weeks ago, she posted a short encouragement video on the Five most Common Blocks to Painting and How to Overcome Them.
- When I purchased my Takach etching press, I searched for Dan Weldon’s book on Solar Plate etching. Printing intaglio etchings without the use of acid in my home studio was very appealing. The book is out of print, so copies are crazy-expensive.
- Now there’s a video demonstration of the entire process featuring Dan’s tips and tricks. When a printmaker or painter demonstrates their process, in their own studio, you get bushels of bonus material from seeing the minutia of their methods, their go-to tools as well as their studio layout.
Take the time to watch another artist, even if you already have a “system”, for the potential to enhance & inform your own art-making.
Have an inspired week, and I’ll see you in the next post!
Belinda
P.S. You’re invited to subscribe to this blog (it’s free), so each post will be sent you you via email.
P.P.S. Waiting for Spring? This train coming into the station scoffs at our yearnings.
The paint well insert comes out for re-loading or cleaning, and you can rotate the configuration, so the thumb-rest on the corner works for right or left handed. How cool is that? Get more details and artist’s photos here.
Art Quote
Action cures all fear.
Eric Kim
Make your art 80% ‘good enough’ in your own eyes; then hit publish.
Create the art you would like to see, and seek to please yourself, before you please others.
Another fantastic blog from the amazing BDP! You are a wonder! Thank you for all the goodies — all great —
really enjoyed the 40 tips rant :). Not to mention I love this painting, with its playful combinations. Rock on.
Good morning Miss Grubinger! It’s so nice to “see” you. More tea? How about a butter cookie with that? Thanks for the visit, and the compliments, and I’m sending eastward-bound wishes for a rockin’ week.