Have added some new paintings to my online album. :)

[GreenPartyVoter]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eF4xXbJxLKnWcVQL9

[dawg day]

1. I loved the house picture...

Almost elegiac. Your colors are so dramatic.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Thank you! I love bold colors. Not for everything, but a lot of subjects.

[applegrove]

2. Love it. Do you paint little frog characters? I love your cat.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Thank you. The cat was a swing and a miss at copying someone else's doodle, but it's

still cute in its own way.

No frogs yet, but there is a toad that is waiting for me to finish him.

[applegrove]

16. I'd live to see it if you finish it.

[pbmus]

3. What medium did you start with...?

Good work..

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Thank you! Everything that was given to me in grade school art class. I didn't try

Last edited Sat Nov 16, 2019, 11:48 AM - Edit history (1)

any art classes in high school, and only print making for my art credit in college.(I come from a long line of artists and decided that if I wasn’t a prodigy, I wasn’t even going to try.)

Anyway, the creative urge kept gnawing at me. I tried watercolor lessons from books about 25 years ago. My mother, a former art teacher, tried coaching me long distance, but I gave up. Got the urge again as my youngest son was finishing up school. Still using books and also have the benefit of YouTube. Finally got brave enough to take a class and make mistakes in public.

I try to do drawing exercises as well, since I need help with that too. I know it’s traditional to learn drawing first, but clearly I am not one for tradition. Honestly, I just love color so much and the way watercolor moves, I can’t stay away from it.

[pbmus]

17. The reason I ask is because I have thought about trying my hand

At creating and wanted to know your opinions on best medium to start...

And thanks for your explanation..

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. So sorry to be this late in replying! As mentioned elsewhere in the thread, it's traditional

to start with drawing as a foundation. That said, think about what medium pulls at you. I could tell you that pottery is the way to go, but if you don’t like the feel of wet clay or care about pottery in general, you won’t get much out of it.

I use watercolors because I love to watch how they can mix and move. I also love texture and know that collage, felting, and a return to weaving are likely in my future. (Plus, it’s good to have a lot of projects as watercolor can take time to dry or needs you to walk away for a bit while thinking over the next move. Otherwise you might do what I do which is jump back in too soon on a painting and make a mess.)

I have been getting books on loan through the library system and at cheap resale stores. I also have hundreds of Pinterest pins and YouTube vids on drawing and watercolor. If you decide to go with this medium, just holler and I will share some videos and book titles with you.

[Fragment]

4. I love your paintings!!!

They are inspiring me to spend more time drawing and painting.

Have you taken classes, or are you self-taught?

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Thank you so much! See post 9 for how I got to this point.

[LiberalLoner]

5. Beautiful work!

Watercolor is really a master’s medium, what a great job you’ve done with such a challenging media!

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Thank you! It is definitely difficult. A lot of variables to consider, and

I am still fighting with my lack of drawing expertise. I can definitely see growth, though! If you had asked me 2 years ago if I would be painting the things I am trying now, I would have said not a chance. This gives me hope, because I still have a long list of things I don’t feel ready try yet, like people.

I plan on trying watercolors with other media. Would love to do some collages!

[procon]

6. Very good!

You have such a wide range of subjects, some whimsical, others demonstrating advanced techniques. I especially liked the blue/green tea glass where you captured the transparency of the glass. Nicely done.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Thank you! I am mostly teaching myself, so my training is a bit patchwork. There

are some things I probably should know but have missed from my helter skelter approach, but hopefully I will pick them up over time. I am starting to take classes, which should help.

[procon]

14. Art classes are a necessity.

Not only will you learned correct methods and new techniques from the instructors, but also gather insight and knowledge from fellow students. You can see how they apply what they learn to their own creative endeavors and that will inspire you to improve your own skill sets.

Keep exploring, art is always expanding the way we create.

[Baitball Blogger]

13. I love your style and palete!

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. Thank you!

[lunatica]

15. You're art is a delight to look at

They’re beautiful, whimsical, and weighty at the same time. Your colors are outstanding. Your compositions and imagery are compelling and very atmospheric. Every part of your picture is important which is very good because so many artists forget the importance of the entire painting.

Thank you!

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. Thank you! I can't lay claim to making all of those choices as I am still trying to

learn by copying others, but I think it’s starting to seep into my own work a bit more now.