Sunday, July 25, 2010

Painterly and Sketcherly and Shadowly (Sort of)


I felt "painterly" today (when don't I?). I caught Terry Madden on public television effortlessly laying down color after color with watercolors so that they would bleed into one another. It made me want to do it. So I pulled out a small sketch that I had done at the Miami Book Fair International last November and let the watercolors flow. I love how watercolors create patterns that I never could have planned.

This was done on 5" x 7" watercolor sheet that easily slips into the small carrying case that I use for on-site sketching. I should really use them more in the field - the size is better than Moleskine size, and I can choose whatever paper I want.

At the trip to Central Florida last month, I sat in the back seat as we drove up A-1-A through Cocoa Beach. I sketched snippets of what I saw along the way just for fun. The middle house is a composite, and, okay, I made up the boat and the water and the bird. I could start a new trend with this size: 7" x 1" - like a bookmark only skinnier. "Waste not, want not," right?


This week, for Shadow Shot Sunday, I cheat and provide a reflection. In justification of the shot, I refer you to dictionary.com here, and definition no. 9 of "shadow" which is "a reflected image". Hah!

39 comments:

  1. Reflection or shadow, I think they're great captures! Hope you've had a fun weekend, Dan! Enjoy!

    Sylvia

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  2. I love how you painted your sketch. Such juicy colors! And your back seat drawing is delightful! Nice shadow shot too!

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  3. All my photos this week were reflections, as there wasn't much sun about to create shadows!!

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  4. Fascinating work.
    It has been delightful
    to visit your gallery.
    Good Creations

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  5. You are the master of painterly, sketcherly, shadowly! I especially love the painterly effect of all those luscious watercolors floating (bleeding?) together. Fun to do and oh, so lovely to look at!!

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  6. Dan, Your watercolor "sketches" are wonderful and inspiring! I like your composite house. I like the idea of book marks! Festive.

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  7. I just love outdoor markets and you really captured the feeling of the market life, I see what you mean about colours flowing in to each other, love it.

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  8. Both of your sketches are glorious!!! I love the one of the book fair- so much detail. And the 7 x 1 is stunning!!! When I see these images I realize there is so much of your work we don't get to see. Because these kinds of images don't just happen... you must do it a lot. Fantastic!

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  9. First you cheat by painting your own shadows...then this??? LOL.

    That top one is fantastic. Wonderful! I love the colors and how you've suggestion the distance of the people in the far background. You created so much depth in this piece! The drawing of it is quite good. And the woman with the pink pants is phenomenal! So well done on her gesture!

    As for the 7"x1"...much better than the 12"x1" that I just did doodles all up and down. That's a lot of detail in the 1" height!

    You mentioned your drawing kit and now you have me curious! Would love to have a peek of that!

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  10. It took me a while to see the shadow (reflection) in the photo but it was a nice "aha" when I finally saw it. I enjoyed your watercolors. I'm into watercolor also- along with a lot of other types of art.
    Barbara

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  11. I like all those rich colours bleeding into each other on the book fair drawing, it's what I always want to achieve with watercolours and don't! I wish I had seen Terry Madden too.

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  12. Beautiful watercolor, Dan. You did so effortlessly what I struggle endlessly to do! And I have to admit that I love the 7" x 1" piece! A new trend indeed!!

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  13. Love colors and perspective, Dan! The result is so fresh...
    Excellent job!

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  14. Love the 7x1 sketch... from a moving car no less... my hero!@

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  15. Tis luvverly. You're making me itch to give it a try. That top one is exactly the sort of thing I'd like to do. Wonder if I want to do it enough to get around to trying? Keep the inspiration coming. It feels good!

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  16. Oh, the surprises and beauty in watercolor! You did a super job with this one - both the drawing and the painting. Your skinny little painting is really fun, and your shadow shot? .... very clever! nancy

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  17. It looks like so much fun playing with the colors when they are wet! =) It turns out beautifully Dan and this has to be one of the most vibrant work you have done(other than the clock of course).
    And as I was looking at the shadow shot...I was like...HEYYYYYY where's the shadow?!!! There's nothing but a reflection there ^^

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  18. Don't you just love it when the colors ooze into each other!

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  19. The colours work really well don't they? I can just imagine myself there with all the sounds and smells that go with it and I'm sure it's the colour that does that.

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  20. Wonderful work....and writing about Cocoa beach brought back great memories!!

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  21. I really like the A-1-A. It's not just a good painting but makes me feel like I'm zooming along looking out the car window. (For some reason, I'm moving right to left--or East to West; I guess you were actually headed North.)

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  22. Thats what we love about watercolor! Fun to visit here!
    Continued success!

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  23. Wow! Such amazing work - as usual! You know, you should use the 7" x 1" piece as the background for your blog header! Really great work, Dan!

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  24. You've always been on my list of the "Cools" in life Dan =) regardless of whether you know anything about Street Fighters. But thanks for the comments, and you can relay this to your son telling him that I don't think Street Fighters works very well in 3D format. I have King of Fighters 3D and the ranges attacks don't work as well as 2D. So I really hope that they actually make Tekken in 2D format instead of trying to blend Street Fighters in 3D format

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  25. Oh wait, I think I have Street Fighters EX3 ^^ and yeah, I didn't like it.

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  26. LOVE the fact that you did not waste that 1x7"!
    And your paintings are wonderful~
    (Btw, your shadow shot is just begging to be painted...you know that, right?)

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  27. Beautiful watercolour - you have handled the paints really well. I love the vibrant colours and the way you tackled the colour of the sculpture. Lovely!

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  28. Lovely watercolour§ I just love your scenes!

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  29. Isn't Terry Madden fun to watch? Watch paint, I mean... I wish I could turn off the sound, don't much care for his personality. I see a difference in your sketch - bravo!

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  30. Love what you did with the watercolors... especially the tent tops. Always a pleasure to see what you have been up to! Deb

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  31. the Fair painting is zesty! I'm glad you reworked a piece and it improved...often if I revisit something it is wrecked! The bookmark painting is appealing..and it was fun to locate the reflection --okay--shadow---in your photo.

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  32. I came here via DJ, and what a fun blog you have!
    Great watercolors,,,and LOVE the confetti clock.
    Yes, and wonderful: the bookmark!

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  33. I love the vibrancy of the colour in your scene!

    Watercolour isn't my preferred medium, but it is a pretty versatile paint, don't you think? I think it is a perfect compliment to oil pastels. I also LOVE watercolour with black ink. Fab stuff!

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  34. Wonderful painting, Dan!! I love the way you capture the mood of a scene. I can sense the people moving and all the noise. It's great. Sorry I haven't been able to keep up with all your posts, since it's hard for me to access the web in Maine. However, I'm a BIG fan and will try to stop by now and then.

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  35. Lovely colors mixing together - that's really the beauty of watercolor and you've done it so well.

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  36. Wow, Dan, your book fair image is amazing! It seems like you've turned a corner on this image. Looking forward to seeing what's next!

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  37. Thank you all so much for your wonderfully encouraging comments! They mean so much to me, I can't say. Raena - one day I will definitely show you my humble little painting kit. Kathy, I will wait for you.. I am a BIGGER fan of yours, for good reason. Thanks all, so much.

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