Wednesday 7 December 2011

A new day's dawning

"It's starting to look a bit like Christmas" .. well it is around here now. Some of the local houses look like they could have been the inspiration for that Chevy Chase movie .. you know the one ... where he fixes enough lights to the roof to light half of the neighbourhood LOL . I'll be out in the elements at the weekend attempting to fix up my own less ambitious selection of outside fairy lights ... one year I'm going to go completely OTT ... but not this one!

I managed to find a little time tonight to play again with some of my new tube colours. This was done mainly with larger brushes, helping to keep it quite loose. It's amazing how many different expressive marks you can make with a large mop and a 1" flat  ... as well as being able to get big juicy washes onto the paper. My new big ceramic palette with deep wells has really helped too!

Happy painting and drawing everyone :)

'Don't look back', watercolour on Arches 300gsm/140lb Rough, 23cm x 31cm/9" x 12"
Posted by at 23:44

23 comments:

  1. SharonWrightArtist8 December 2011 at 06:52

    Glorious colours, they really sing. I think maybe the oranges would be reflected in the water, too? Love those clean, sharp dark clouds in the orange sky, very clever.

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  2. Pat8 December 2011 at 07:56

    Absolutely love this, Michael. Your best yet! xx

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  3. Judy8 December 2011 at 08:49

    Love this one too, fabulous sky! Using big brushes is great, isn't it. I'm still looking for a good big flat one. Good luck with decorating!

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  4. Lisa Le Quelenec8 December 2011 at 08:50

    Your new colours are very exciting! Loosening up suits you, I can't wait to see more... stay warm.

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  5. Tito8 December 2011 at 12:31

    What a beautiful sunset Michael, your choice of colors is absolutely stunning. Great work endeed! Ciao!

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  6. Victor Errington8 December 2011 at 16:17

    Hi Michael.
    Brilliant painting my friend. Depth amazing. Colours amazing also. Well done Michael. All the best.
    Vic.

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  7. Unknown8 December 2011 at 16:51

    Hi Rose, thank you! I really enjoyed this one. Glad you like it too :) Getting colder now ... time to bundle up!

    Hi Sharon, thank you! I did start to put orange into the water, just a thin glaze, but I got distracted with the sky :)

    Hi Pat, thank you! I'm with you on that ... I was definitely 'in the zone' when I did this :)

    Hi Judy, thank you! I used a W&N Sceptre Gold II 1" flat for a lot of this, a sable/synthetic mix so cheaper than pure sable and you can get a razor sharp edge too :)

    Hi Lisa, thank you. I think I will be doing more of these looser painting, it's a style that I often use and feel most comfortable with. Chilly here too!

    Hi Tito, thank you! I really like the red/orange and green/blue complementaries very much. They really go well together and enhance each other too :)

    Hi Vic, thank you. Glad you liked it my friend. I love your latest painting too and will be over to leave you a comment soon. All the best, Michael.

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  8. Jane8 December 2011 at 17:07

    Who would want to look back ...with a view like this ? :-)) A real eye opener- just stunning!Love this loose style!

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  9. Lydie8 December 2011 at 18:51

    Yes, just have fun ! Watercolor is wonderful because you can always marvel at what is happening on paper. I love your sunset.

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  10. John (JWJarts)8 December 2011 at 20:19

    A lovely vibrant painting Michael - great job!!! I'm putting up my outdoor lights this weekend also, weather permitting. Good luck. ;-)

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  11. Cora8 December 2011 at 21:11

    I like the colors particularly the brilliant gold. the painting looks really fresh. Lovely.

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  12. Unknown8 December 2011 at 22:43

    Thank you all - Jane, Lydie, John and Cora.

    Jane, I agree, why look back! I do enjoy looser styles and must do more like this :)

    John, it's always been a fine line for me between vibrant and mud but this one went the right way! Good luck too with your outdoor lights:)

    Lydie, I am having great fun! I really felt like I was in control with this one, and the different pigments I used seemed to behave well :)

    Cora, the gold is just the Cadmiums - yellow and red. I really enjoy painting sunsets and sunrises too :)

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  13. Anamaria do Val8 December 2011 at 23:17

    I like very much this watercolor, I think you've done a wonderful choise of colors! I cant stop looking at it

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  14. Unknown8 December 2011 at 23:26

    Hi Anamaria. Thank you for your kind comments and for visiting my blog :)

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  15. Sandra Busby9 December 2011 at 11:02

    What an AMAZING sky! I LOVE the colours! You have made it look so effortless :0)

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  16. jsicignano2.blogspot.com9 December 2011 at 22:14

    Michael, I have been admiring your post and didn't have the time to comment. But let me say, this is one of my favorites Michael. Your tones, and color are superb. Absolutely lovely.

    all the best to you,
    Joan

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  17. Barbra Joan9 December 2011 at 22:20

    Michael. Your new ceramic palette? I just got one about 2 months ago... I love it .. love it.
    your painting is so vibrant, love that orangey color and I'm not an orange color person.. but on you it looks good .. LOL!!! BJ

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  18. Blaga10 December 2011 at 00:55

    Absolutely stunning sunset! Your colors are so crisp and juicy, great job! I also find that large brushes force me to loosen up and create more spontaneous results.

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  19. Unknown10 December 2011 at 08:52

    Hi Sandra, Joan, BJ and Blaga. Thank you all very much!

    Sandra - the thing is, it was effortless. That's when you know it's going to work :)

    Joan - No worries, I'm struggling to keep up with my blog comments too! I love those colours as well :)

    BJ - Ceramic palettes, Yay, they're the best! Not sure I'd look good in orange, but I'm good with turquoise :)

    Blaga - I work so much with smaller brushes for sketching so it's really good to loosen up a bit :)

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  20. Unknown11 December 2011 at 15:03

    beautiful sky!

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  21. Anonymous13 December 2011 at 18:52

    Wow, what a beautiful sky you have made. Really wonderful.

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  22. Rogério Santana15 December 2011 at 09:54

    Loved this painting! The contrasts are great.

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  23. Unknown15 December 2011 at 10:28

    Hi, welcome to my blog, Kyla Marie. Thank you!

    Hi Renske, I loved the sky too, thank you!

    Hi Rogério, glad you like this one, thank you!

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