The Finished Leucadendron Watercolor Painting

Mendocino Laucadendron
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I am really happy with my finished painting! The background makes everything pop and the two different shades of blue give it even more depth. In person the shades blend much better than it shows in the photo. Now on to my new project that I will hopefully have a start on before next week. 

Painting The Background of Leucadendron Watercolor

I decided to paint the background of my painting even though several people said "don't try it!" I wasn't happy with it the way it was and well, it's just a painting. I'll start over if I have to but it would not have made me happy looking at it or even selling something that felt unfinished. I bought a new tube of cobalt blue and will finish it at the bottom with a windsor blue green shade.

Result Of This Painting Is Undecided

Peeking Sparrow

I started this painting a few posts back and I'm still undecided about it. I used a photo I had taken but decided to add the bird and take out a few of the twigs and simplify it. The plant needs more values and it just seems flat. I also realized I didn't enjoy painting on the canvas board. The texture just felt unnatural to me. I had 2 boards at the time so I will give it a try with another painting. I'll keep this and work on it more later. In the meantime I found some watercolor paper and started a new project with a plant that grows here in my area that has fascinated me. I had to call the nursery here to find out that they are a native of South Africa called "Leucadendron". Here is the photo of the plant and the start of  the painting. 

Under-painting Done For New Painting

I'm now getting back into the studio and creating a series of birds of northern California. My goal is to paint loser and make each mark count. I've been enjoying Painting my World by Karen Margulis blog on The Evolution of Style...What is the Key? Although I don't use pastel's, I love her work and her inspiration. Here is my start with my first bird painting in my series.

I tend to paint tight and I want this one to be a little loser and just enjoy the process. We'll see how this goes.

We just moved to the Northern coast of California and their is a lot of inspiration here. When sitting at the beach painting I'm finding the motion of the sea is difficult to paint. I created a painting with the waves but I will admit I did take it into the studio to complete the painting with photos I had taken. Plien air painting is something I want try out soon. Here is the finished painting.

Ocean Breeze

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