More of the Challenge

Here’s 5 more from the June 30x30 direct watercolor challenge. I still have one to go to catch up. It’s been quite interesting, as I’m an oil painter- which is so forgiving! And direct means no drawing first, so that makes it even harder. Practice…. And sharpen those skills!

Here’s a day where I played catch up…the same set up twice. By looking longer, you really do see more!

These two were also done on the same day, down at Second Beach in Middletown, RI. The girl boogie boarding - I just kept painting her as she moved around. I’d like to try this again- figures at the beach. All of these were from direct observation- no photos!

30x30 Direct Watercolor

 I’m always up for a good art challenge and this one pushed me out of my comfort zone. Direct means no preliminary drawing, and watercolor is definitely not my medium. I missed a few days and had to play catch up, but learned quite a bit. Here’s a few of my favorites- by which I mean most successful! 

Day 1/30. View from my deck.

I also used gouache, painting only from direct observation. Not doing any drawing first help improve my drawing skills. I’ll post a few more tomorrow!

 I came across this lovely metal chair in front of a coffee shop and thought it might be a fun subject for a painting. 

Design by JANUS et Cie. 

We are on the road in our motorhome and it was a rainy day, so I picked up watercolor (which is not my usual media) and started in. I love a good challenge, and here’s my effort. Waiting for a white mat I ordered, then it will appear in my Daily Paintworks Gallery. 

How do I make art when traveling? How do you?

This is a question I always struggle with while we travel. In the motorhome for a four month trip, I’m thrilled about seeing so many new to me parts of the US. The itinerary is amazing, yet I start to stress before we even hit the road.
I can’t set up my oil paints inside the motor home and the weather isn’t always conducive to painting outside. I don’t have a studio to work in and sometimes I see the problems more than I see the solutions.
An artist friend posted on FB a quote attributed to Winston Churchill:
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
I need to post that one in my brain!
So... in the vein of doing things differently and truly seeing the opportunity in the perceived  difficulty, I’ve brought watercolors, gouache, scissors, a glue stick, and a nice big sketchbook with heavyweight paper.
My beginning....

I’ll paint plein air when the opportunity arises but for now- no stressing!