How comfortable are you in doing something that you know you are not good at and then publicly showing the results? I have tried watercolors a few time and brought some watercolor stuff with me to Paris. My trip is over half over, so I decided last night to play a bit, using some of my recent photos for reference. I definitely need lots of practice, but it was incredibly enjoyable.
I think “primitive” would a positive spin on my watercolor “style”. I’m finding water control and brush control to be my biggest challenges at the moment. Those two issues make it hard for me to put in details, because the lines expand really quickly if there is too much water. Of course, it helps to be able to draw, which I don’t do well, so proportions can quickly get skewed.
Here are a few geeky details for those of you who paint with watercolors. I used a twelve color DaVinci full pan watercolor set in a metal tin. DaVinci is a small company in California that makes its own paints and they are a higher quality than the student grade paints I have used before. For paper, I used several brands, but they are all 140 lbs (300 gsm) in weight and are cold press. The first painting was done on a 4×6 inch (10×15 cm) Fluid 100 block that is 100% cotton; the second one on a 5×7 inch (12×18 cm) Fabriano Artistico extra white block that is also 100% cotton; and the final one on a 4×6 inch (10×15 cm) Strathmore postcard that is made of wood pulp.
As I worked and played with the watercolors, I thought of a Sidney Sheldon quotation that I came across recently, “A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it is to be God.” There is something really special about the creative process, making something with your own hands.
Later today I am going on a three hour sketching tour in Montmartre, as long as the weather holds. That will be the real test for me, seeing how well I can overcome insecurities and fears while literally in public view.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
You’re doing so well Mike! I’m impressed, especially with the way you’ve done the trees in the second painting where you’ve succeeded in showing a light canopy and the feeling of dappled light. And you’re already including human figures … wow!
I knew you would like these, Liz, because you have tried several times to gently push me into doing more with watercolors. It’s been months and months since I tried anything, so I am pleasantly surprised that these turned out ok. I figured that I had run out of excuses and that it was time to simply throw caution to the wind. In some ways it’s a little easier to use my own photos as inspiration–composition is something I have already thought about, so it is not quite the issue it would be if I tried to paint from real life.
Good point about the composition ‘shortcut’ !!!
Nice Mike! Glad you are having a Great Time on your trip. Enjoyed seeing your watercolor artwork.
I like these, Mike (and I love the quote you shared). I think these have a nice Parisy feel to them – not that I’ve been, but there’s a bit of whimsy behind the details.
Go for it Mike. And I’m going to quote the quote you quoted. Often.
I like to think of our creative urges as God trying to express itself through us. Keep on expressing, Mike!
As an aside, Grandma Moses started painting in earnest at age 78. And look at the acclaim she found!
I think you might be a notch or two above “primitive,” Mike! Very nice and more important that you enjoy the process. I hope the weather holds for your sketch tour.
[…] and I was inspired enough to produce some more little paintings that you can see in the posting Playing with watercolor in Paris. My skill level had improved marginally and I eventually painted a few more times before I left […]
[…] a pedestrian bridge over the Seine that I had photographed. Here is a link to the posting ‘Playing with watercolor in Paris‘ that shows the November version of the painting, and a link to the post ‘A few more […]