Sunday 28 November 2010

Colouring in before drawing


Push Push Push. I keep at it, trying new techniques, learning, experimenting. Today was doing the colouring in before I had a picture!

I've been falling in love with watercolour again this week. I'm taking a course (yeah, I know, how many times have you heard me say that!?) on Whimsical Watercolours and I just finished another (!) on journalling techniques which involved this media too. I've been blending and splashing and watching those translucent colours meld into each other. I'd forgotten the wonderful things they do on paper; your tool is the water - such a simple ingredient, but just look at the results of the spells!

There's other things I want to do too today - like make something for Sunday Sketches, and so I push myself to combine the two. I'm also mindful of The Three Muses upcoming Movie challenge. Months ago I bottled out of drawing the enigmatic Neytiri from Avatar because 'I didn't do faces'. Then I found Suzi Blu and things have never been the same since. I've written about my love for painting faces once this week already so won't repeat myself... except to say.... I LOVE DRAWING AND PAINTING FACES!!

So I thought I'd practice drawing a slightly alien form on this watery mottle. Here is Neytiri with the colours of the forest at night reflecting in her face (which is why she isn't blue - artistic licence you understand - and the fact that I laid down the colour wash before I'd decided what to draw! Sometimes the Muse just likes to keep you on your toes!).

I have to share how thrilled I was to be an inspiration for another. Elizabeth, a fellow blogger so enjoyed looking at my pink flower creation (that I made for Breast Cancer Awareness), that she made one herself. It's part of a fabulous post of wonderful artwork on her site - Altered Book Lover - do pop along to browse around her gallery.

34 comments:

  1. Your faces have certainly changed in these past few months. I can see the evolution of your lines and the practice of techniques. You Go Woman! :D

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  2. wow - this is incredible - so well done, great piece of art

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  3. ~we just watched avatar again last weekend...your drawing of neytiri is wonderful...i like the thought of laying color down and then sketching something out...may just have to try your little technique! warm wishes and brightest blessings~

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  4. beautiful!!! I have done watercolor off and on for 20 yrs - totally self taught other than 2 wonderful experiences as classes! I have been searching for blogs that are watercolor or more painting related - found you thru Lenorita!!! I am sooooooooooo excited!
    cheers, dana

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  5. I love that you keep spreading your wings, and your faces are growing and changing along with you. She is so cool!

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  6. Love your face, it's brilliant. I'm going to give that technique a go. thanks

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  7. Love it! I think the effect you get from coloring first and then sketching is wonderful, keeps things interesting.

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  8. I love love this, the colors, the splashes, the expression, everything!

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  9. Love all your techniques - have tried some in past others are new to us! This is a great effect. Nice! oops did i say nice - fabulous - nobody likes the word nice any more :-) Poor nice! LOL

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  10. Oh, this is absolutely DIVINE!!!!

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  11. oh this is a facinating piece...love the colors and then the sketch over adds much...cool concept...may have to give this a try...

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  12. Now, this is BEAUTIFUL. I like the whole idea, and the way your sketch turned out is just awesome. I need to take that class, whimsical watercolours, sounds fun. Is tam doing another class. i would love to try it sometime, when i have more time, maybe in the winter months.
    wonderful stuff here, today! xxoo

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  13. Beautiful!!

    Intriguing new techniques you're using! They really are bringing out the Muse!

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  14. She is just beautiful, I really love the technique you used! I love drawing and painting faces too. I am taking my first Suzi Blu workshop, I just love it! Have a great Sunday :) ~Lauren

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  15. Wow beautiful colors and nicely done the way you described your technique. You are like my Pa whose work is an experiment with new/various techniques..

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  16. She is beautiful! I love drawing and painting faces too! Suzi is great! So glad you are enjoying it! :)

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  17. oh! i love this painting! it reminds me alot of art journaling! why don't you write something on?

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  18. wow! what a wonderful piece..I love the little splatters! And the eye is simply stunning. Isn't it funny that what you had decided you "don't do"
    has turned out to be something you are so gifted at?!! :)

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  19. this is wonderful. I love it actually. How fun that the color came first.

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  20. I like the white patch under the eye - like a tear.

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  21. Lisa, you inspire me with your bravery to continue to try new techniques and ideas, even if you feel you haven't succeeded in them as you wished. THANK YOU for being so real with your art endeavours with us. I SO appreciate that about you. Blessed to have you in my life. :)

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  22. I love the effect you got with your watercolor face. It looks like it was created with spontaneous flair. This is one of my favorites of yours..all those classes...I wonder how you were given 48 hours in your day and the rest of us only got 24! Go, Lisa, Go!

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  23. Absolutely great colors! I love this. Gorgeous!

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  24. Now this is a super cool idea! Ilove yours so much, I am going to have to try!
    XoX

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  25. oh Lisa!!! I think this is my new all time favorite!!! it is so neat the effect you got with the sketch and the color!!!

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  26. Wow! Gorgeous! Something I've never tried and to be honest it sounds blinkin scary! I'd have to be drunk I think to get the color bit done without having some sort of plan of a picture in my head already!! LOL!

    Have a lovely week
    xx

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  27. Looks wonderful! Beautiful face. I love watercolor. I go back and forth with the acrylic and watercolor. They are so different.

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  28. This is beautiful... I'm loving all of the techniques you're using - very inspiring!

    xo
    Kristin

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  29. Oh, she is beyond lovely! I love drawing faces too...what a beautiful place this is to visit x

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  30. Hi, Lisa! This piece will inspire me to bust out my watercolors soon. I love yours. I've had a love hate relationship with watercolors in the past....lol....but I'm willing to try again! : ))

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  31. This is brilliant and wonderfully simple, yet so vibrant. I really, really like it. I just read your most recent post and totally get how you feel today. We know this blah mood will pass and the passion will rise to the top again. Hang in there!

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  32. Hey Lisa, I promise this is ONE technique I won't even consider copying. I can't draw for squat, so that's why I loved your breast cancer flower so much. And thank you for citing my blog. How sweet of you. I think this eye is so expressive. I can see why it's a favorite of so many who visited you today.

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  33. Lisa, my favorite part of anyone's work is the in-betweens. For me, I'd have you stop here because I'd hang it on my wall- as is! Love how the face 'occurs', the positive/negative balance is perfect- is this painting about the face or the color? And the pencil is as beautiful medium as the watercolor.>3

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Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

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