Friday, June 24, 2011

Watercolour Lessons

Only just over a week and, although it's freezing in the computer room, here I am!

I have mentioned before that I've been going once a week for watercolour classes.  Now, although watercolour is not my main medium - I am an oil lover and a wannabe pastel artist - I do love the freshness of the medium and I believe that learning about anything is good for one.  So, it's many thanks to Penny Steynor for being so patient with me and leading me through some processes to try and improve my watercolour techniques.

These are just a few I've done and am willing to put up for other eyes to see.

Rhodes Memorial which is on the slopes of Table Mountain just next to the University of Cape Town.  They are in the process of cutting down the pines and replacing them with indigenous flora so soon there will be none of these "old stone pines" left.  This was done plein air - outside on my very first lesson in March.





Done from one of Penny's photographs, she spends a lot of time on the beach taking snapshots of boats and birds and other sea sort of things.










Another of Penny's photos, this time of a trumpeter playing with his troupe during the 2nd of January Cape Town Minstrels (or "Coon Carnival") celebrations, which are a feature of the Cape Town summer.

31 comments:

SharonWrightArtist said...

The paintings are fabulous, I especially like the boats. I think you are far too modest about your skills!

Shelley Smart said...

Wow! These are great paintings! I like them all but I'd say my favorite is the trees! You've captured their lyrical beauty and also the emotion of their short futures.

You do well to go from oil to watercolor! Such a totally different process. Hmm, watercolor might be your medium! Okay, one of them!

Ajay Patil said...

you are good at watercolors and probably its time to give lesson that take one :). I especially liked the boat painting

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

Gorgeous works Liz. I could not pick a favorite of the three. Your compositions are so strong and the works are very fresh. Wonderful!

Barbara Pask said...

All of these are just wonderful Liz. You are a brave gal to try all these different mediums.

Dean H. said...

A huge WOW!, Liz! Looks as if you've done this for years! The complexity increases from #1 to #2 to #3. Fantastic on them all. Amazing.

Crystal said...

You are fantastic with watercolor too! I love these paintings :-)

Prabal said...

Love to see such great works from you.. I especially loved the portrait..

Saundra Lane Galloway said...

WOW Liz...such beautiful and insightful work...there is a freshness that is not something one can learn...bravo!...I love seeing "your" type of pines...lovely!

Carol Blackburn said...

These are awesome watercolors, Liz. You have taken quite nicely to the medium. It is my favorite.
Stay warm!

Suzanne McDermott said...

My dear, you are exceptionally able with watercolor (and not everyone is)! I'm so pleased for you and your teacher. She's leading you well. (And, by the way, many watercolors hit the circular bin to make way for the ones worth showing).
suzannemcdermott.com
drawandwatercolor.com

hmuxo said...

I love all 3 of these paintings, Liz but the portrait is "excellent". Your work with watercolor is absolutely amazing!! I'm looking forward to more of them.

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Isn't it so fun to learn new things?
These painting are just gorgeous!
love
tweedles

Autumn Leaves said...

These are all fabulous and in my personal favorite medium! Oh to paint like this, Liz. Each one is a true beauty!

Jane said...

Liz you are doing an amazing job!! Can't believe you are a beginner, especially the boat on the beach is a real stunner.

V. Deshmukh said...

Amazing work! You are a quick learner Liz. I have been doing watercolour for so many years and still feel like I haven't a clue of things.
Keep up the good work.
Best wishes,

Becky said...

Love the pines! So sad they are cutting them down! What is wrong with these people that destroy the trees?

Unknown said...

My fav is the one of the boats. Seemingly simple composition perfectly executed.

rob ijbema said...

the trumpeter is spot on liz
i like it when you use these dark darks like the on below with the geese...great contrast!!

Marian Fortunati said...

EGAD!!!
That's SOME teacher!!!! (Either that or as I suspect, that's SOME artist!!!!)

Wonderful wonderful work, Liz!!

Marty said...

really you are a great artist ! these paintings are just gorgeous !
wonderful work !
bisous Liz

Cathy Gatland said...

Just as proficient in watercolours as your other mediums, Liz, these are fabulous. I can't imagine Rhodes Mem without the pines!!(Glad you've captured them for posterity) I'm not going to recognise Cape Town soon, but I guess fynbos is good!

Debbie said...

Liz... I'm impressed! I just love your clean fresh approach to your watercolours! I too could not imagine Rhodes without the pines. I have a couple of photos of them with me... you have inspired me to to try them sometime. BTW you should take a look at the Watercolour society blog and website sometime. We have exciting new happenings coming up soon which will involve artists in all mediums. http://wssajoburg.blogspot.com/

Carol said...

Beautiful paintings Liz.

r garriott said...

What a great set of watercolors. When your solo show of these open?

V. Deshmukh said...

Dear Liz,

I have changed my blog to http://www.pencilsandbrushes.blogspot.com/ . My old blog address vd-art.blogspot.com is being used by someone else and it is appearing as VINAYAK DESHMUKH ART in everyone's bloglist which is not correct. Please make the necessary changes.
Thank you,
Vinayak

Art with Liz said...

Thank you so much everyone. Your encouragement is terrific. Watercolour is a great medium and I can understand why so many of you paint with it. I will carry on trying to eliminate those 'cauliflowers' and 'splash backs' and all sorts of things watercolourists have to avoid.

V. Deshmukh said...

Thanks Liz,
Yes, you can delete him if you want to. Hope to see your new post soon. Best wishes,

Kathleen Hebert said...

Love what you are doing with watercolor!!!! You are so good at capturing a fresh, alive mood of your subject matter.

Rhonda Hartis Smith said...

Liz, these are wonderful! I've been dabbling in watercolors too but none of them are publishable.

Anonymous said...

Hi Liz,
Great work!

My client is seeking a fine artist here in cape Town, someone who is good at water colours and pen & ink drawings.
they are requiring 2 pieces of work.
1. is a water colour (A3) of their historic cottage in Stellenbosch
2. Pen & Ink drawing (A4) also of their historic cottage in Stellenbosch

Both pictures would need to have a historic, classical look and feel.

Do you know of who you could put me in contact with so I could refer these artists to him so he could commission them to do this work?

Many thanks and kind regards
Dave
davesherwoodadcock@googlemail.com