Tuesday, March 11, 2014

BARN OWL IN WATERCOLOR INK BASE

Each experiment in art should teach you something.  Whether it's something good you can use next time, or something bad you want to avoid next time, it's good to learn something new.  With this painting, which began with Dr. ph. Martin's watercolor inks as a base (the background and darks in the owl), I learned:


1.  The wc inks are not permanent when they dry but will still rewet and smear when you put watercolor over them (this was a "bad" thing I'll avoid in the future)

2.  Even when you experiment, you should do good work and not rush





So my finished little barn owl is here:






Not great - maybe not even good, but it was a learning experience.




Next time I try this, I'll use fluid acrylics or acrylic inks as the base - those, I KNOW, are permanent when dry and won't move and smear when I put on the watercolor over it.




And how is your week going?  (Back to the pink flamingo for me...)


9 comments:

Debbie Nolan said...

Rhonda - I think your owl turned out super. Isn't it wonderful the things we learn when we experiment...some good and some not so bad - the important part is we are growing as artists. Hope to see your flamingo soon.

Katherine Harra said...

I like him a lot, but certainly do understand about the learning experience! Never a wasted sheet of paper if you come away knowing more. I didn't know abt the w/c inks lifting, I thought the word "INK" meant . . well . . permanent. Thanks for sharing that part.
We're about to have our next blizzard here in Michigan, and I assume you are in for some of it too. So, the week STARTED okay, but . . .

laura said...

I like his face--there's something wistful about it!
A good experiment.

Autumn Leaves said...

Love this owl's expression, Rhonda. It is perfect!

RH Carpenter said...

I have to admit, he looks better in the photo than IRL, but I did learn. Then I read in the latest catalog that the Dr. ph Martin watercolors do lift and rewet - d'uh! So next time, I'll either get some acrylic inks for this or try the fluid acrylics thinned down with water. Has anyone tried those alcohol based inks out there? They look pretty interesting, too. Spring is always a time to stretch and try new things - that is, if we ever have spring! Another snow coming our way, too, Katherine, but you are going to get it worse than we are this time - stay safe!
Thanks for the comments on this, Debbie, Katherine, Laura and Sherry.

JANE MINTER said...

Hi Rhonda I like the idea of this one ...I really like it as a b/w image too ...hope you try this again with liquid acrylics

JANE MINTER said...

Hi Rhonda I like the idea of this one ...I really like it as a b/w image too ...hope you try this again with liquid acrylics

Barb Sailor said...

I like him very much...and I think he has a very kind attitude/expression.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks so much, Jane and Barb :) I will try something like this again with the acrylics next time.