Tuesday, April 27, 2010

A Big Beady-Eyed Bird

Another bird - this time one of Saundra Lane Galloway's ones from her visit to her local zoo.  You can see all her animals from her Surprise Day at the Zoo, here.

This I did in watercolour,  a medium that I still battle with.  Only one in 4 or 5 of my attempts at watercolour am I satisfied with.  Note the word satisfied - not thrilled, over-the-moon or ecstatic about, just satisfied.

This Winter we have a number of workshops arranged and I am determined to take at least one on learning to use watercolours.  I wish I could visit all those wonderful watercolourists in India and the USA for lessons, but no can do, so have to find someone from our local awesomely talented artists.

In the meantime, meet the Beady Eyed Crane!


29 comments:

Dean H. said...

Hey, Liz, I really feel this should have a much higher rating on your satisfaction chart! But, I guess, only you knew what your expectations were for it.
I truly like the concept of limited color in this!! Well done watercolor!Thumbs up!!!

Anthony Duce said...

Your Beady Eyed Crane is beautiful. This is a wonderful watercolor.

I love watercolor's but my experience and ratio of success is the same as you noted for you.

Maree Clarkson said...

BEAUTIFUL! Great results here Liz! You seem to be mastering watercolours beautifully. Don't worry about your"unsatisfactory" one, we all have them!

marty said...

je pense vraiment que tu peux être "satisfaite" - cette aquarelle est très belle !
so, now you have to translate two french comments !!!
à bientôt

Saundra Lane Galloway said...

I don't know what was in your mind for this Liz, but I just LOVE the way you captured this guy...When I look at it I am reminded of the feeling he evoked...I laughed off and on all day...Very well done my friend!!

Barbara Pask said...

Wonderful Liz, great colors and I loved the way you cropped him.

Cathy Gatland said...

I love all your bird paintings Liz, and this is no exception, he has a lovely quizzical expression and the watercolour is great - the splashes of colour in the grey are brilliant.

Prabal said...

Nice and loose and fresh.. Those warm tones nicely form a beautiful focal point.. I think you should do more watercolor..

Anyways.. Now I have gotten over the disappointment and looking forward to WC. I think we'll be getting the telecast evening (afternoon matches) to late night(evening matches) out here..

Ramesh Jhawar said...

Hey Liz...You did a nice job on this one! That patch of yellow and red amidst the grays are eye catching! Hope to see more of your watercolors :)

jyothisethu said...

Liz,

another beautiful work...
watercolor is effectively used for achieving the texture of feathers which has different forms in different parts of the body of the bird...

congrats...

Anonymous said...

It is everything a watercolor should be. It has lost and found edges, nice color harmony and an interesting subject done with minimal strokes. You should do more watercolors.
Jean

Becky said...

He's a great looking dude! Very colorful!

FitFoodieMegha said...

Dissatisfaction is the indication to improvement! :) I love your work and yes please posting such superb work!

Art with Liz said...

Thank you Dean! You made me realise I was comparing my work which is fatal. You see! I learn from you all the time - again a big thank you!


Hi Tony and thank you. It's an amazing medium and when it comes right - wow!

Art with Liz said...

Gosh Maree, it was unsuccessful oneS - lots of them. But thanks to all you wonderful folk I'm realising this is really quite good! Looking at it with different eyes now.


Je vous remercie beaucoup de Marty. Entre vous et Martine, peut-être je vais commencer à comprendre un peu français !

Art with Liz said...

I did enjoy painting him Saundra and thought of you and your great comment all the while. Thank you for putting him up to paint!


Thank you so much Barbara - he was kind of cropped for me, so made it easier, but I will think of cropping with a different view from now on.

Art with Liz said...

Gosh Cathy coming from you that's great! Thank you so much.


Ah Prabal, I have a long way to go to get to your standard, but thank you so much. I guess we'll be talking cricket again from next week? Keep well.

Art with Liz said...

Dear Ramesh, as I said to Prabal, I have a long way to go to reach your level of expertise, but thank you so much for a great compliment!


Wow Sethu, thank you for that!

Art with Liz said...

Thank you Jean! It's so wonderful getting compliments from all you great watercolourists!


Hi there Becky! Thank you dear friend.

Art with Liz said...

Thank you Megha, what a beautiful thing to say! I will treasure that.

Sadia said...

Very nice strokes Liz ! The limited palette has worked wonders!

Autumn Leaves said...

Oh Liz! I think this is fabulous! I love that expression on his face too. I think this is a very well done watercolor!

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

Wonderful! Liz, your talent amazes me. This is so fresh and full of movement and yet accurately portrays this bird. Bravo!

Marian Fortunati said...

If this is how you struggle then... Struggle on...
This is terrific, Liz!!
He's a funny looking bird isn't he? Makes me smile!

Michelle said...

I think you've done such a wonderful job with this, Liz! It has such great color and flow!

Mary said...

Liz, I very much like this painting. There is a fresh quality and sense of movement to it that is delightful, and the simple palette is lovely. I am working to improve my work in acrylics and haven't even attempted watercolors! I need to be able to paint over the unsatisfactory areas :>).

The painting of three children in your previous post is amazing--what a wonderful ability to capture individuality you have!

Rhonda Hartis Smith said...

Liz, your Beady Eyed Crane is gorgeous. I've never tried watercolors but I love them.

Becky Joy said...

Your crane is beautiful. Good job with the watercolors. Its been several years since I've worked with them.

Caroline Peña Bray said...

This guy is gorgeous! And I think you should give yourself more credited re watercolours, this really is something.