Bell Rock. 4 x 6 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2016 Sheila Delgado
I wanna be better.
Worked on three pieces today. Finished two, but both felt flat. This is one of them. Started this at about 10:30 pm, finished by 11 including the editing. Looks so, juvenile to me. I like the soft clouds, and the greenery. But the rock is lacking oomph.
I know what I did wrong. Just wondering, if I know, why didn’t I just do it right? I wanted more of a sketchy feel. My pen marks are stiff and too dark. My shadows are stiff as well. There I am trying to “copy” the details from the photo instead of just feeling my way through the shapes.
Laughing at myself, because I have better paintings I could have posted. But here it is, day 15. Let’s see how much my Sedona scenes improve by next September’s challenge! I hope, I hope.
Here is a cloud shot I love. Maybe it will help to erase the memory of this mediocre little piece. Ha!
Sun setting in Prescott Valley
Take a look at day 15 on Leslie Seata’s 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!
My Pinterest board for the event is bursting with over 700 works of art!
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I think there are a lot of good things happening in this picture Sheila. I see value changes – in the trees and parts of the Rock and the sky is beautiful. You don’t know until you try things. You can always go back in at some point (if you want) and do a bit more line work. Maybe with a pencil (HB or 2B) or charcoal – whatever you want.
I think pencil would have been better Janet, or a smaller pen. I am going to do it again, and hopefully make some improvements 🙂 Happy painting to you 🙂
I’m not sure. I love the clouds, the trees and the mountain, but perhaps not all in the same picture. If you also outlined the clouds and trees as well it may help.
Ha ha ha, I like that Sea. Not all in the same picture. Yeah, I didn’t even think about the tree shapes. ;(
I think the painting is wonderful. The mountain draws your eye right away. Perfect. The sky is delightful almost like you can see movement in the clouds. The trees give a great contrast to the rest of the painting. Arizona has been great for your art!
LOL, thanks for that Lana. I was watching the clouds move yesterday, one great thing about a windy day 🙂
What a conundrum – when parts of a painting make you happy and others tick you off. We all want to be better and some days we are but other days we won’t. Here’s hoping tomorrow is better.
So true Val. Hope it is a good day for you, happy creating 🙂
Sheila – Lovely landscape! Great to see it!
Thanks Connie, can’t wait to see your piece for today 🙂
I hear you about the dark line – always a tricky thing to get right! The clouds are pretty perfect, though! 🙂
Thank you Emma 🙂
Love your post, its life-in-the-day-of-an-artist candor.
A thought, if you’re feeling playful. Do a second quick (no fussing, maybe 12 minutes tops) painting of the same scene, to roughly the same scale, with your first painting face down and out of sight. Once the second one dries, cut the original into sky/rock/greenery. Then superimpose original rocks over new rocks, original greenery over new greenery. See whatcha get!
Oh thank you Dotty, glad it was candor and not whiny! LOL. Love your idea, a testament to your detachment exercises! Have fun today 🙂
Don’t be hard on yourself. Has a lot strength!
Thanks Carol 🙂 Happy sketching to you!