But Seriously, Folks (and Some Matchmaking Too)

This is my version of the Watercolor Challenge "Baza Lakes" by BILBOV. It is one of my first real attempts to do a "serious" (i.e., traditional) watercolor, and I really enjoyed learning the different techniques necessary to do the painting. I loved the composition of the photo and the challenges of earth, sky, and sea. (And it also meets Everyday Matters Challenge no. 148 - Draw or paint something soothing.) I am grateful for the challenge, and am forever amazed at the resources made available by artists on the web for artists of all levels. I feel so fortunate to have found such a supportive and wonderful community in the blogosphere and on flickr.

One great non-web resource I used to learn techniques for this painting is a book entitled "Mastering the Art of Watercolor" by Wendy Jelbert and Ian Sidaway. The book contains mostly step-by-step illustrations on how to complete paintings of provided scenes. While I really hate the idea of recreating another artist's painting step-by-step, I love studying how the wonderful paintings in the book were done, and applying the methods myself.

The ink and watercolor sketches that I have been doing seem to have helped me along in the process of learning traditional watercolor. My initial attempt some time ago at the first exercise in the book, the painting of an onion and pear through overlaying colors, was a disaster. This time, I was able to do it without any problem, although again I worked from the photograph and not the steps because I like to think for myself and make my own painting rather than follow along. It is the learning of the techniques that I believe is important.

Finally, if you have been following my blog for any amount of time, you know that I draw people in public and sometimes bemoan the fact that I often only have time for their heads. The result is that I have Moleskines filled with "floating heads".

Well, the other day at a restaurant I decided instead to partake in some matchmaking. They both seemed lonely at their separate tables so I brought them together. It seems they have always been together. Their roots are firmly in the 60's, and their three children have long since grown and moved away. Their life together has been rewarding although they may not admit or recognize it. They have a summer cottage at Baza Lakes, I think.
Ah, the magic of art.