This year, I resolved to do more everyday observation. I left it up to interpretation what exactly that means, but generally I want to lower my bar what’s “worth it” to bother getting out the paint.
- I don’t need to be ready to make a polished, completed scene. Just a color study or sketch is fine.
- I don’t need have an hour to spend on it. Just a few minutes is fine.
- I don’t need to go out. A windowscape is fine.
Recent Sketches & Studies
Because the output of my painting lately has been sketches and studies, not “paintings,” I debated whether to even share them. But I think it’s helpful to see what I mean. Besides, I like some of the stuff, even if it’s not too polished.
Windowscape Dawn Color Studies
Winter can be a hard time for painting, but there are upsides. Dawn is also later than any other time of the year. I was able to paint sunrise by waking up at the reasonable hour of 7 AM.
Some quick notes:
- I mostly used Naples Yellow Deep, Pyrrol Scarlet, Quin Coral, and a mixed muted blues including bits and pieces from all over my sky palette. Lavender is doing a lot of work, as is the mix of Phthalo Blue GS + Perylene Red.
- #1 was meant to be a smooth gradient but I dropped water and had to redo it.
- #2 looked better before I put in more purple at the top right.
- #3 was an experiment in using Nickel Azo Yellow instead of Naples Yellow Deep for the yellow, which is bolder and brighter but struck me as being garish.
- #4 is quite pale but honestly that’s what it was looking like by the time the sun was mostly risen.
- The big one is my favorite! Quin Coral doing a lot of work for the soft clouds.
Windowscape Sketches
As golden hour shifted to sunset, I noticed interesting warm light on one side of a house through my window. I sketched and painted it quickly, in a couple of minutes, as the light was rapidly changing.
While the sketch is slapdash and the colors are too pale, I think it does capture some of what I liked about the light.
Here’s a similar windowscape from sunset a few weeks later.
You have to work quickly when the light is changing. This can lead to a less “finished” look.
Simple Scene
Small scenes that don’t take me very long can feel like “I didn’t really do anything,” but really this approaches “real” by my typical definition! I painted this in a 5×7-ish square on a larger piece of paper.
Comments
6 responses to “Lowering the barrier to paint”
Each of the scenes looks to have captured the essence of what caught your eye to begin with. What a great way to build your practice!
Do you use your SCH Pretty In Pink palette? I’m a serious fan of pink and i think you are, too. You mention “my pink palette” in you Spring 2025 spring palette post – what are your own pink palette colours? Thank you for any info you can share. -k. / Maine
I have a post on the Schmincke Pretty in Pink palette coming up very soon!
In Spring 2025 I was probably referring to the actual palette box itself (I have a Drawn to High Places x Art Toolkit pocket palette that is hot pink).
My favorite pink palette colors are Quin Magenta (PR122) and Quin Coral (PR209), and/or Quin Rose (PV19), though I find PR122 + PR209 can mix a rosy hue. I have been known to use Opera Pink, though lately I find its brightness a bit out of step with my other colors. What are your favorite pinks??
Oh boy, lucky you to have a Drawn to High Places pink palette box! From time to time i search online for someone who might (foolishly) be selling one; alas, no luck yet. Can’t wait to read your Pretty in Pink review, so will be keeping my eye peeled. As for favourite pinks : I use DS Quin Pink whenever i can find (or create!) a use for it. DS Quin Rose is lovely too, but it doesn’t make my heart flutter like QPink. SCH PR122 is a favourite for when i don’t need (or can’t justify) the use of the brilliance of QPink. I like all the pinks that nestle between and around those beauties. As mixers, i just go crazy sometimes and paint swatches all over my big Canson Montval paper. And of course one set of swatches leads to another and soon i have paints all over the place. It’s an addiction! As for Quin Coral PR209 : I have that, but haven’t used it much. after reading your blog, i’ll be pulling it out. Thank you so much for the information you make available to those of use who are new to art of any kind, particularly to watercolour. -k./Maine
Art Toolkit has pink palettes for valentine’s day right now! It doesn’t have the Drawn to High Places image, but it’s the same color of pink.
ON IT! Thank you! I’m going to read your PinP review first, however. Best, -k/maine