Paint Party Friday!

The last time I painted was two weeks ago for the first Paint Party Friday.  What with traveling and then busyness once I got back, I didn't have time.  I've been yearning to and I'm so glad I had Paint Party Friday to help me be motivated to finally do it.

This week I decided to work with watercolors again.  I'd been using acrylics for the past couple months and was missing watercolors.  I'm going to have to figure out how to fit both media in because I really like them both and because I'm still so new to both and need lots of practice.

Before I put the watercolors aside, I'd started a painting of my potted lemon geranium.




This is as far as I'd gotten.  In the meantime the real plant grew a bit.




And started to flower.




Guess it didn't suffer too much from sitting on the desk I use for painting instead of in the window. Anyway, I worked on the painting a bit today, even though I was feeling somewhat discouraged on how it had been coming.




Here's where I left it when I finished today.  I like it a lot more than I did before.  Might need a little more work and I'd love to be able to add some flowers.

And speaking of flowers, the other painting I did today is of a rose.  I've been trying and trying to paint roses in both watercolor and acrylic (and I've been crocheting them like crazy).  Today I decided to start with a sketch.




I was fairly happy with my sketch considering the fact that I'm not very comfortable with my drawing ability.  The actual painting was much more frustrating.




I like it, but it didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it to (and it took a lot of fussing to get to this point).  The leaves were a bit disappointing, too.  I used masking fluid and then when I removed it, the veins were much too wide and bright-looking.  I painted over them and they lost the impact that they were supposed to have.  Oh well, I'm still learning.  And it was so satisfying to finally have brushes in my hands again!

I can't wait to see what everyone else has been up to for Paint Party Friday this week! 

Comments

  1. So beautiful...gorgeous work...waterolcors are so serene and peaceful...and i love the rose..magical and beautiful!!
    Victoria~

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  2. Well, I love your rose, it's so pretty - the petals are very well done.
    I like the pot and the shadowing you did! Don't be so hard on yourself! you have a nice soft touch with your watercolors! nice to meet you through PPF!

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  3. hi again Anne! Thx for sharing your watercolor rose - it's beautiful ... watercolors are so hard for me ... so unforgiving! But you make it look easy ... love the lamb's ears and all the bits of Spring from your previous posts ... have a great weekend!

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  4. Happy PPF! I love your geranium and rose. I love the soft look of it too. I think you did a great job. I enjoyed reading some of your other posts from your trip and birthday....Happy belated bday. I hope you enjoy your weekend ahead.
    ~Theresa

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  5. Lemon geranium, never have seen it before and it is lovely and so is your painting. Your rose is beautiful and very well done.

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  6. I like the softness of your work. Lovely rose!

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  7. I love lemon geranium. The scent is just awesome. Great painting, very soft and I love the rose. Happy PPF.

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  8. I think both of your paintings are lovely, Anne! So glad you picked up that brush again!

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  9. Wow - I wish I had your green thumb!
    Your paintings are wonderful - I love the softness of the rose.

    xo
    Kristin

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  10. oh that's a gorgeous rose, sorry it took so much trouble for you, but it was worth it. Nice potted plant too.

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  11. I think both paintings are fantastic! The geranium has so much depth. I love the shadow you put in and the color of the pot is lovely. The rose painting is gorgeous! I LOVE what you've done there. So soft... beautiful! :)

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  12. These came out so nicely! Really lovely!

    Great to have you back at the party Anne!

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  13. both of your paintings are delightful bits of spring! A tip with masking fluid, take it off before you are quite finished with the area and if it's too big and bold just take a damp brush and move some of the paint next to it into the bright white area to tone it down a bit. Thanks for stopping by my blog on my first PPF!

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  14. I Love your rose! I think you did a great job. Both paintings a great!

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  15. Lovely lemon geranium! So delicate and fresh, the leaves...and I love the way the shadow pulls the eye over, opening up possibilities....the rose is fabulous, the shading variances of the pink petals. Very pretty!
    Enjoy your weekend :)

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  16. I, too, love to work both with acrylics and watercolors and am always torn between the two. I guess with time we'll find a way to incorporate both. I think your rose turned out very beautifully.

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  17. The 2 paintings are coming nicely. Your drawing is good. I can't even draw a proper rose ... I'm not only new to watercolor but also acrylic. So you're not alone in this.

    The 2 medium are so different that I have figured out which I like or dislike. ;)

    Great work and love the see the finished pieces.

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  18. So clever! We pulled out our water colours yesterday too - and I didn't even know about the friday paint thingy! (:
    Rachael x

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  19. I love that rose- so soft and luscious! For me, I find a lot of times, when I've been working too long on one piece, I just can't *see* it objectively anymore. I personally think it's beautifully done!
    Happy PPF- a day late!
    Stephanie

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  20. Anne, I like both paintings but the rose is stunning. I think sometimes when we try too hard we can lose vitality in a painting. I think the rose looks like a highly scented variety!

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  21. Lovely lemon geranium and beautiful rose. You and roses just seem to go together!

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  22. What lovely soft pieces. Just beautiful!

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  23. I know what you mean about roses...much harder than you would think. You did a much better job than I ever have...and the potted plant is looking wonderful!
    xo

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  24. The plant is looking great - the delicate leaves are painted beautifully and the pot looks solid and real. Your rose is gorgeous - the petals look so soft and delicate - you did an amazing job with this especially with the flower head itself.

    Kat X

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  25. I really like the rose especially, its so soft and delicate. I know what you mean about watercolour-you get one chance to get it right in my experience before the colours start to go muddy. But i think you're doing a great job at mastering it!

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  26. I love the lemon geranium and think you should definitely add a few flowers. Or at least one. :) It's looking great. Fun to see how much the real thing grew in the meanwhile.

    Masking fluid and I have never made friends. If you discover the secret to using it successfully, please share!

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  27. Fabulous Rose. No more putting yourself down OK?!

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  28. Dearest sweet anna, it's wonderful to get back in the swing of things here on blogland! Your lemmon looks so beautiful with it's flower. Oh my and your 2 paintings are gorgeous. Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to you!

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  29. They are both beautiful and so love your rose. Am so happy to join in the party and seeing everyones work. Annette x

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  30. There's nothing wrong with your rose...it's beautiful! My opinion..frame it! Loving the progress on your geranium.

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  31. Gorgeous watercolors! Love the pink rose.

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  32. I really appreciate your attitude towards learning...it's hard to be honest and humble about the process. I think you did such a great job on the rose petals and the geranium leaves!
    ~Kerry

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  33. Thanks so much to each of you for such thoughtful comments. I really appreciate it. I really wasn't meaning to sound like I was down on myself, just trying to honestly share my feelings as I'm navigating these new (for me) types of art. I know that the more I do the better I'll get. I'm glad to have Paint Party Friday to encourage me to paint at least one day a week!

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