July is World Watercolor Month, a month-long challenge in which watercolor painters of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to paint daily and post their work on-line. I have joined this challenge and am trying to paint something every day using the daily prompts at worldwatercolormonth.com. So far, I have managed to paint something every single day, generally following the daily prompt. Thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement as I have taken this little artistic detour on my photography journey.
If you want to see the first two installments of my painting efforts this month, check out my previous postings ‘More fun with watercolor‘ and ‘World Watercolor Month 2020—part 2.’ This third installment highlights my painting efforts of the past six days in reverse chronological order.
The prompt for 16 July was “machine.” I recalled an old mill with a waterwheel that I photographed in July 2012 that hinted at all kinds of machinery inside the mill building and did today’s little painting using one of my photos as inspiration. Here is a link to the original posting called ‘Stepping outside of the box.’ What I had forgotten, though, is that I had converted the images to black and white for the posting and I have no idea of the original colors of the structure, so I just made them up. My sketching skill are pretty weak still, so I printed a copy of the blog photo, rubbed a pencil on the back of it, and transferred a simplified version of it to the watercolor paper.
The prompt for 15 July was “forgotten.” Nothing came to mind, so instead I attempted to paint some Black-eyed Susans like the ones that I had seen while hunting for dragonflies earlier that day.
The prompt for 14 July was “green,” which made me think of flowers. So I painted a little patch of wildflowers, mostly by spattering paint—it turns out that it is a lot of fun to throw paint at paper in a somewhat controlled way.
The prompt for 13 July was “twisted.” Herons have such long necks that they often seem to be twisted, so I painted this little sumi-e style scene with three herons, some cattails, and a disproportionately large dragonfly.
The prompt for 12 July was “favorite place.” It is hard to represent Paris in a single image, so I chose to depict it with this view of the Eiffel Tower looking upwards from one of its “feet,” using one of my photos from last November as the the inspiration for this little painting —about 5″ x 7″ (127mm x 177mm). If you would like to see my original posting, check out ‘Eiffel Tower perspectives.’ I used the same transfer method for the sketch that I described above for 16 July.
The prompt for 11 July was “round,” so I did a little painting of a bicycle, loosely based on an artsy photo I took in Paris last November. If you would like to see my original posting, check out ‘Bicycle in Paris.”
I am experimenting with a number of different styles and subjects as I play with watercolor painting, but a few things are already clear. First, my greatest creative inspiration continues to come from my memories of Paris—three of the sixteen paintings I have completed so far were based on my experiences in the ‘La Ville Lumière’ (‘the city of light’).
Style-wise I continue to be drawn to the minimalist East Asian brush painting style known more commonly as sumi-e and have used this approach in three paintings already. Technically this is the freestyle version of sumi-e (xieyi) that tries to capture the essence of a subject in a minimum number of strokes rather than striving for a realistic representation of it. There is another more detailed sumi-e style called gongbi that I would not even attempt to imitate.
If you want to learn more about World Watercolor Month, click on this link or go directly to doodlewash.com. In addition to raising awareness and interest about watercolor painting, World Watercolor Month raises support for The Dreaming Zebra Foundation, a charity providing support so that children and young adults are given an equal opportunity to explore and develop their creativity in the arts.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Very good, Mike. I particularly like the mill. I think you got everything at the correct angle – the piece really works.
Thanks, Dan. I had the advantage of having composed a photo in advance that framed the subject the way I wanted it to be. Then the challenge was to paint a simplified version of the photo, copying its form. I am in awe of someone who can sketch from real life and produce a painting like this on-site and outdoors. It’s going to take a whole lot of practice before I can feel comfortable trying that. 🙂
Namaste, Mr. Mike! Gem and I are really loving your watercolors. You are getting better and better at painting! You are getting lots of practice this month, right? Gem always tells me something that somebody said and I can say it too : “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good gets better and your better gets best.” Gem says it about all the time about my schoolwork, but it works for anything you are trying to learn. We each picked out our favorite painting and that was not easy cause we love all of them. Gem picks the Black-eyed Susans cause she loves flowers so much. I can’t pick just one! So I pick the herons with the dragonfly and the green bicycle. I think the tire’s shadows are so neat! Thank you and Bye!
Thanks, Benjamin, for your thoughts and comments. I think that I am getting a little better in painting because I am practicing every day. I agree with you and Gem that working to improve all of the time is important in many different areas of your life. What is important, however, is that I focus on improving me and not worry about comparing myself to others. There is always going to be someone who is a better photographer or painter, but that is ok if I am getting a bit better over time. I am happy to hear about your favorites and Gem’s too. I can’t decide which ones I like best. Take care, Benjamin, and have a wonderful weekend.
I thoroughly appreciated your narrative on your new endeavor into watercolors, Mike; hearing how you proceeded with each new prompt, adapting your own interpretation, like putting colors in that were absent from the photo. Also liked hearing about the minimalist style. And the watercolors are delightful, each one a concentrated effort to portray your enjoyment of that moment when you photographed. I remember your enthusiasm on the Paris trip, and it shows in your paintings. For now I’m off to some of your links. Very inspiring, thank you.
Thanks, Jet. My skill levels is so much higher in my photography than in my painting that it does not bother me at all to share virtually all of my painting efforts. By contrast, I fairly carefully select which photos I will show. I really do feel like the little kid that wants to hang everything on the refrigerator door.
Lovely, Mike. I remember some of the original Paris pictures. Today it’s hard to choose a favorite painting because I really like all of them! Each one is unique in subject and style. I admire you for painting every day and half the month is gone already. I am sure I would have been distracted by now and made excuses for not doing it, but you soldier on and are clearly having fun with it.
These are all great, Mike. You are definitely reaping the rewards of this regular practice. Given you have identified your favourite subject and style, I am wondering if you might use the sumi method to portray Parisian scenes.
Thanks, Laura, for your kind words. Sumi style Paris? I can sort of see how it could be done for something simple like the Eiffel Tower, but it might be tough for Paris street scenes. 🙂
I like them all but I think my favorite this time is the bicycle. I’m not sure how I would do reflections with watercolors but you’ve done it very well.
Thanks, Allen. I “cheated” a little by having a good reference photo that I took, but reflections of an object are tough. I think my shadows needed to be a little softer, but water control is still an issue and I did not want to risk having the shape of the shadow explode by using too much water. 🙂
It’s always a dance between light and dark and how much of each to use.
Looking at your excellent example my first thought was “Where would I start?
I like things that make me think and wonder, and your painting did that, so thank you.
Well done indeed, Mike, you are making really amazing progress. I like them all, but my favorites are the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. I absolutely love what you’ve done with the herons.
Thanks, Gary. I guess that practice does make a difference. I am fascinated and intrigued by the way that different viewers are drawn to different paintings. I know that is probably the same with my photos, but I never present an eclectic mix of photos as I did with these paintings.
Such fun, Mike! Thank you for sharing! I should try it! 😊
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Thanks, Mitzy. Watercolor is a lot of fun–that is sort of my message in these posts about what I am doing. You don’t a lot of supplies or space to start and the subject matter is everywhere. Some folks like to combine watercolor with ink sketching, as long as the ink is waterproof and dry. In the watermill painting, I outlined the major elements with a thin black marker before I started painting. You have noting to lose in trying it. I love the Picasso quote that I see from time to time, “All children are born artists, the problem is to remain an artist as we grow up.”
All very nice, Mike, and I enjoyed your explanations. Your “oversized dragonfly” gave me a chuckle, first when I read the line and then seeing the result—we know where your interest lies 🙂 . I like that look for the herons, too.
Thanks, Ellen. The dragonfly was the last element that I put in the painting and I didn’t really intend for it to be so big. With that style of painting, though, you get only one chance to make the initial stroke and once it was down on the paper, I decided to go with it. I think the herons in East Asia are a little different than our Great Blue Herons, but the shape is pretty much the same, so my stylized herons were recognizable.
The dragonfly worked out well, Mike, even if it wasn’t your intention. Very recognizable!
Wow Mike! You are gifted. Love them all!
These are wonderful, Mike. Your painting seems to be bolder and more fluid in this set. Keep having fun!
Thanks, Eliza. I tend to focus on the paintings one at a time. As soon as one is done, I’m already thinking about the next one. I know that is beneficial for me to do these kind of compilation posts, because it allows me to look for things like progression and evolution. It’s a little hard for an onlooker to judge from the results, but I know that I am feeling more confident and a bit more comfortable in working with my watercolors and I guess that translates into what you described as “bolder and more fluid.” As for fun, I definitely plan to keep having lots of it. 🙂
[…] ‘More fun with watercolor‘, ‘World Watercolor Month 2020—part 2 ,’ and ‘World Watercolor Month 2020—part 3.’ This fourth installment highlights my painting efforts of the past six days in reverse […]
[…] previous postings ‘More fun with watercolor‘, ‘World Watercolor Month 2020—part 2 ,’ ‘World Watercolor Month 2020—part 3,’ and Word Watercolor Month—part 4. This final installment highlights my painting efforts over […]