A COUPLE OF BIRDS

 The Sarah Stokes course on Domestika.com shared her way of painting birds.  These are my chosen birdies and my composition from photos I found online on a free site (no copyright issues but not my own photos).  Sarah likes her splatters so I did some splatters, too (might have gotten carried away).  The colors I used are in the left side.  I liked the ides of putting down the color palette and then sticking to it.

THE GIRL WITH A FISH IN HER HAIR

 

This would have looked cleaner if I’d planned to put the clownfish in before painting her hair.  As it was, I lifted out a large section of her hair after it was painted, painted in the clownfish, then painting in strands of hair around it.  I think she looks happy to be a pretty girl with a fish in her hair = quite unusual! ha ha

I have 2 more Domestika.com courses to do (artist/teacher Sarah Stokes online course on birds and then another on animals).  I am enjoying these courses = little mini lessons that kickstart me into painting when I’m not feeling the inspiration inside and there are some good teachers and courses in Domestika - plus they are very reasonably priced.  I just got 3 courses for less than $25!!  You get to keep the lessons after you’re done, too, so you can return to them again if you need refreshing with the technique or style.  Now, I have been painting for years (not 20 years but quite a few years) so I don’t really need these lessons - but they are still fun and you get a chance to see how other artists work (especially if you are still not comfortable going out to an in-person class or workshop).  

ADDING A FISH?

 Almost finished but I’m going to try to add a clownfish in her hair - we’ll see if it works or not.  Just experimenting, anyway.

STARTING ANOTHER?

 

Just the first layers on this one.  Love her hair and hope I can keep it that free and loose.  

I’m thinking I might take the Skechy challenge of painting a portrait every day in October but that seems like a lot of pressure to get it all done…maybe I’ll just do one every other day?  Or continue on my own with Domestika lessons helping me.  (I did sign up for 3 more Domestika courses and the one on birds is really fun and full of information although her pronunciation of gouache bothers me every time she says it! ha ha

It is wash with a g in front of it = gwash

She pronounces it goo-wash.  But maybe that’s her regional accent?  Sarah Stokes is her name and she’s a good, informative teacher.  I know these courses are not for someone who’s been painting in watercolor for years but it does kickstart me when I’m in a slump - and I always learn some little thing that’s new.  

FINAL PARROT FISH GIRL

 

Added a bit and put in the background (wanted it to be like sea kelp).

PRETTY GIRL STAGE 2

 Bringing in more color and shape and the Parrot Fish to give her a little fish kiss. 

Now I have to slow down and take it easy, looking more than painting, as I finish her skin and hair and decide on the background colors.

PRETTY GIRL STAGE 1

 Started another portrait (from a free photo site).  This one is on Arches rough140# cold press block.  A lot more to bring her to life and add a fish (I have one in mind). 

PRETTY BOY INTO A MERMAN

 

 

Yeah, I turned hm into a merman.  The little seahorse was added with gouache.  

PRETTY BOY 2

 

Adding that dark hair and eyebrows (like feathers!) really changed it up a lot.  It amazes me how much one strong dark color changes everything.

I’m not that unhappy with it but still wish I’d left it at the first version before continuing to work on it.  Oh, well.  Maybe there is a lesson there that I should quit before I think it’s finished?

I think I’ll get out some dry media not and do a few touch-ups and move on to the next thing.  

I like Arthur Braud’s teaching style a lot and will look to see if he has any other courses through Domestika.com.