Eric Wiegardt Workshop - Day 1 - "Carolina Barn"

Last week my sister and I took a workshop wiht Eric Wiegardt. We worked loosely and boldly (I hope!) with large brushes on full sheet (22 x 30 inches) paper which was a new experience for me. The class was great and I hope I learned some things that I can incorporate into my own work.

The first day Eric started with a pencil value sketch of a landscape using only 3 values. He followed that with a single color painting and then a full color painting. He stressed value shifts and when painting to have the lighter washes run through or into the darker values. He also told us to focus on saving our lights. I painted "Carolina Barn" from photos I had taken recently while driving through North Carolina. (Many thanks to Lin Frey for steering me to some great barn roads!)

Sunrise at Myrtle Beach

I've been down in Myrtle Beach, SC at a watercolor workshop for a while. I haven't taken photos of the paintings I did at the workshop yet, but this is a postcard I painted of the sunrise one morning while we were there. I was rooming with my sister and I didn't want to wake her up while I did this, so I painted it in near darkness. The only light I had was what was coming through the window while I painted. I think I captured the sunrise fairly well.

Tea Time

This is 5 x 7 and was done as one of the items for the Scavenger Hunts I do on WetCanvas. I turned it into an actual painting.

Yellow Poppy

This is another ATC (2.5 x 3.5 in) flower for my exchange. I love poppies and plan to do a red one too. I had fun doing this one!

Santa Barbara Mission

This is 7 x 10 and was done for the WDE from a reference photo by "Lake of Trees." I thank her for the beautiful inspiration the photo provided. I changed the original reference a bit by having my palm trees lean into the painting instead of leaning out.

Hydrangeas I

This is an ATC (2.5 x 3.5) that is part of the series of florals that I'm doing for an exchange. I used ink and watercolor crayons in this. Hydrangeas are a challenge because of all the little flowers clustered on each branch. I thought the wc crayons might make it a bit easier, but I think the smallness of the card made using them a bit harder. I may try another hydrangea in just watercolor.

Lather Up

This was painted for the WDE on WetCanvas from a photo reference by artastic. Thanks, Bonnie, for a great nostalgic still-life. This is about 5 x 7 done in watercolors.

Foxgloves I

This is another flower for my exchange. These are such interesting flowers with the unusual patterns inside the flower itself and how they sort of grow in clusters. I had to search to find the name of this one.

Iris I

A second ATC that I did for the "25 of ?" exchange has arrived at it's destination, so I can post it here. This is 2.5 x 3.5 inches and was done from a photo I had taken at an iris garden that I visited in NJ. Since this is "Iris I" you can be sure there will be at least another iris painting (if not more).

Bowl of Cherries

This painting is about 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 and was done for the Weekend Drawing Event on Wet Canvas. I can't claim credit for the photo which was supplied by Ruth (madmum) from Wet Canvas. I did this one directly on a blank Strathmore Greeting Card. so at some point I will send it to someone.

Coneflower I

I recently signed up for another exchange on WetCanvas. This time my theme is going to be "Flowers." I take lots of photos of flowers, but I'm usually not happy with the way I paint them in a large size. So I'm going to practice them small and hope they eventually grow into larger paintings. This is ATC sized (2.5 x 3.5) and is done in watercolors. It has arrived at it's new home, so it is safe to post it here.

Red Barn in Autumn

This was done for the Weekend Drawing Event on WetCanvas last weekend from a photo supplied by "upnorthtim". Thanks Tim for this wonderful red barn. I changed the original photo, moving the barn from the right to the left side, and also added a path leading into the painting. It was done with ink and watercolor.

Snowy Branches III

This ATC (2.5 x 3.5) was done for the WetCanvas exchange. I ran out to take photos after our last snowstorm. I loved the pinecone with the snow on it and the branches. I was very happy with the way this one came out and will probably try it on a larger scale too.

Sunflowers Together At Last!

I was asked by a friend to post all three of these together so that they can be seen in a group. So here they are!

Making Jam

I painted this 7 x 10 for the Weekend Drawing Event on WetCanvas from a photo reference from Desiree. (Thank you!) I had a good time working with the deep colors and the highlights on those jars.

Sunflower III

This is my favorite of the three sunflowers I did for the exchange. The second one is below this, and the first one is back in the older posts. Maybe practicing on the other two helped, and maybe I should have done a few more while I was into it. This is also 2.5 x 3.5.

Sunflower II

This ATC (2.5 x 3.5) was done for the WetCanvas project I've been doing. I used one of my own reference photos. I was happy with the way this came out. I enjoy painting these small cards and have signed up for a new project in this size.

Self-Portrait #3

Please don't groan...I had to post this one because I think it's so much better than the last two. I am learning from one to the other. I used regular watercolor brushes for this instead of my waterbrush, so I was able to get more texture in my hair. I also pulled out a book I had on painting watercolor portraits and too notes. There was a lot of helpful information.

Farmers' Market III

This 2.5 x 3.5 ATC was done for my exchange on wet canvas. I love the variety of colors you can see in tomatoes! I would love to have some of these right now. This was done from a photo I took of at a local farmers' market this summer.

Self Portrait #2

Don't worry...I won't post every sp! I think the facial features are a bit better in this one, but I think my eyes are still up too high. This is a learning process...