Still doing images for a watercolour workshop I am running. I decided to extend the loose wash-style and play with mark making, but without losing the overall image of the flower I am trying to depicting. I was pleased with the energetic flow of colour within this painting.
It might be nice to push this even further and only hint at the flower forms.
I have other floral work on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
Some tulips were left on a windowsill and the sun came through the window behind them. I was taken by the contrast in light and shade. However, I dont think I captured the exciting contrasts of the light coming through the petals and leaves against the more opaque areas. I felt if I darkened further it would get muddy, but it does need to get darker to further bring out the contrasts. Some you win some…
I might try again with a looser version, however I did like the structure of the light interplaying with the incisions on the cut glass vase. If I got looser that might have to go.
I do have other floral work on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com if this interests you.
As I am planning my way through a watercolour workshop where I will be using an image of hellebores, I have been painting a few options. The aim of the workshop is to build up some fast, loose washes into a finished painting, rather then laboriously paint every flower petal and leaf. This way can lead to a few problems but it is more than compensated by the happy accidents that crop up and you can get an exciting result. Maybe it doesnt look like hellebores, but you generally get a quirky and pleasing end result. You can apply this approach to landscapes or figures or anything else. It certainly allows a little freedom.
I recently posted a smaller version on this blog which would be good for a card. More of my floral paintings can be found on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
I did this study in ink and wash, using Quink ink. here is no going back, once the mark’s been made it stays, which can make you a bit tentative. In the end you have to throw caution to the wind and get on with it. Sometimes you can cover mistakes made with the pen with washes with the brush. Sometimes you cant.
I like the simplicity of the result. I should try this with a few landscapes. The results are quick and it doesnt take much equipment.
You can see more of my figurative paintings on grahammcquadefineart.com
I was looking at giving a workshop in watercolour painting to my painting group and decided to revisit and old painting I did of hellebores. The painting of flowers allows a loose approach where you aren’t weighed down by details and can paint in loose washes and mix colour on the paper This picture is quite small only 6×8 inches. My original painting of the subject is on my website grahammcquadefineart.com
Having arrived back from Sydney yesterday I went along to the local life drawing group this morning and did this painting. The paper was green and I was uncertain what colour scheme to use. I chose predominantly green hues with a splash of a near complementary and a blue.
On conclusion I was wondering whether I am overdoing the blending and should be looking at putting down more authoritative colour swatches. I have other life studies and paintings on grahammcquadefineart.com
I painted this looking up to the fountain with the Roman Catholic cathedral in the background. When I started there was a guitar busker who stood and played. He made the work easier and I retrieved a note that blew away from his case as he played and gave him a few dollars when he left.
He was replaced by a trumpeter who hassled everyone who passed and would only play if they told him their nationality. He was an embarrassment to be near and I hastened up, finished and fled. Pity.
Arrived in Sydney and walking in the botanic gardens I saw the opera house seeming to spring from the foliage. The sun was beginning to set and the light was playing differently on the sails. The botanic gardens with its stately trees offer a quiet lush haven from the rush of the city. It was a quiet place to paint
This went a bit awry and I should have focussed more on theimportant bit of the diners and drinkers. When I looked up there were some painters from a local group doing similar paintings and having to allow for the cars that kept parking in front.
Devenport, over the water from Auckland was where I started my sketches in New Zealand and this is the last before we leave for Sydney, tonight. So there is some symmetry there.
Back to Auckland and we took a trip to Waiheke Island. It seems like an expensive place where people come ashore in their boats, go to the supermarket and then come down the beach like unsteady turtles and return to their boats. After a very wet start out it turned into a blue sky day and I spent in on the beach, picking up shells and wading in the warm water, between painting.
graham mcquade 