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Friday, November 27, 2009

Abbaye & Koi Pond


The first painting "L'Abbaye de Senaque" was done with a micron ink watercolor paper. I worked with the ink while it was still damp to make it bleed with my waterbrush, and then when the area was dry I used the ink for additional details. I'm not sure why I did the Abbaye in black and grey tones, but I think it had something to do with the fact that it was such a gorgeous spot, and I had just seen the photos inside of the Abbaye gift shop with all the rows of lavender in front of it. It looked breathtaking with all the color. (This spot is often photographed for calendars and postcards.) Of course I was there in October and the lavender is in bloom in August! For me the lavender banks were all just dirt banks. I guess I had to make it look different, and I like the effect I got with the ink. I was also there on a cloudy day, so it did look a bit somber. I would love to see it with the lavender in bloom. "Koi Pond" was painted on the property where we were staying in Rognonas. It had all kinds of hidden lovely spots. Both of these are 5 x 7.

7 comments:

Desiree's Designs said...

Beautiful, I like these, I like using micron pens but I don't like it that they seem to dry out so fast. I still like fine point pitts or sharpe pens. LOL

Robyn Sinclair said...

The subject really suits your monotone approach, Joan. What a lovely time I've had scrolling back through all your sketches of France.

Kat Farmer/van Hookens said...

lovely, lots of detail Joan, the pens are great for this kind of scene I think...

Susan Abston Wiley said...

You've really mastered the art of sketching with pen and ink, and I especially love the black-and-white painting. Values are spot-on, great texture, too. What a treat these little sketches have been for us Francophiles!

Joan said...

Desiree - Thanks. I haven't had any problems with the micron pens drying out.

Robyn - I'm so glad you came over to look at them. It has taken me a while to post them, and I'm not done yet. Thanks!

Kat - Thank you. I think they are perfect to use to sketch outdoors. I'm able to get a lot of detail into the paintings, without sitting there for hours.

Joan said...

Susan - Thanks so much! I enjoyed every minute of sketching and painting in France.

Eileen Mariane aka Marmsk said...

Lovely paintings Joan, lovely blog. I have only just acquired some micron pens which I have not used much yet.