February Watercolour Challenge
Daily Painting Exercises
Please note that these painting exercises are for beginners to intermediate to aid in getting a daily routine.
February Week 1
Paint Tulips
This week we will be looking at different kinds of flowers.
Today some violet tulips. For the violet to appear bright use crimson red and ultramarine blue. For duller areas add a little bit of yellow to it. |
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Paint Pink Tulips
Tulips once more, today in pink kept in a glass vase.
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Paint Roses
Today we are painting a bunch of roses.
To get create the thinner lines within the roses, you can use too options. Use an embossing tool to press the lines into the paper before you add the colour, or add the colour and then press the lines while the paint is still wet. See what work's best for you. |
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And More Tulips
I don't know about you, but I can't get enough of tulips. They are such gorgeous subject.
The green in the stems is clearly a duller green with part containing more yellow and the other section a hint of red within it. |
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Tulips in a Basket
Sorry, I just can't help myself. Tulips for the last time, today nicely placed within a basket.
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Cherry Tree
Paint a blooming cherry tree.
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Paint Free Day
Today you can either rest, or try to finish some of the uncompleted work due for this week.
February Week 2
Paint a Frog
Draw the outlines first and begin with the lightest colour to paint the frog.
The last layer, before you add the little dark green dots should be very slightly wet for the dots to run into the surface a tiny bit. Too early and it runs too much, too late and the effect of softening is lost. Trial out on a test page before doing it on your painting. |
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Paint a Simple Vase
This little image depicts how beautiful and rich a very simple object can look like if it is done well.
Make sure you keep all highlights and check the back-light on the object. When painting a form you much be working with the form not against it. The light on the left on top of the first out-curve cannot be lower than the point the form curves slowly back. So often I see people placing light wherever they won't to and work against the form instead of enhancing it. |
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Paint a Tepee
This is a sweet little and simple watercolour painting of a tepee.
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Paint another Tepee
And another beautiful and sweet example of a Tepee.
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Paint Food in a Pan
People often complain that they do not know what to paint when our surrounding is filled with subject matter.
We are preparing food every day, what an opportunity to use it for a drawing. If you don't want your food to get cold take a photo to finish it. |
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Paint Soup in a Bowl
Here another example of painting our food. A Chinese soup can look very attractive.
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Paint Free Day
Today you can either rest, or try to finish some of the uncompleted work due for this week.
February Week 3
Paint a Purse
People often complain that they do not know what to draw or paint. Yet, our surrounding is filled with subject matter wherever we look.
A simple purse or wallet can be a subject matter as you can see. You can leave so many details out as long as you have tonal value and clarity you can simplify a subject greatly without loosing attraction. |
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Paint a Basket
There are several things we have to think of when painting an item that seems to have a complicated pattern. Simplify and it works. To much details can be almost deadly to a painting.
What is important are the highlight on the curved edges, as they make the subject three dimensional in appearance. But altogether less is more as long as you keep tonal values strong. |
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Paint another Basket
Here is another nice example of a basket.
Take note that the colours on the left are a little cooler than on the right. Study each row of patterns until you see it clearly, don't just go ahead. It is worth investigating the object first until you can see a clear pattern for each row. |
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Paint Wild Flowers
We will be repeatedly painting flowers.It is nice to do create a little setup of flowers, leaves and wild berries. Whenever you go out into nature try setting up something interesting with what is around. Or check your shopping basket for berries or other nice food and use it for a still life setting before you eat. That way, I don't even want to say it, you can kill two birds with one stone. I personally do not like this saying, as in Germany we hit seven flies with one hit, which is a bit more humane and necessary at times.
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Paint Hydrangias
These flowers were left-overs from yesterday used for another today.
It is so easy to use a subject in different ways, so try to be creative. |
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Paint Hydraginas & Berries
And one last image with Hydraginas for today.
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Paint Free Day
Today you can either rest, or try to finish some of the uncompleted work due for this week.
February Week 4
Paint a Wooden Tray
I just love how you can use ordinary household items and create simple but beautiful illustrations.
Today's example is a wooden tray. Once you know how to illustrate simple items, you have an endless supply of subject matter all around you. |
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Paint Beach Accessories
Today get some beach accessories together and paint them in a simple style.
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Paint More Beach Items
Today we continue yesterday's goal to create simple illustrations of beach items.
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Paint a Flower
When painting a flower that seem very complicated and almost overwhelming look out for all larger areas first and narrow it down from there. I also look for straight lines or round / oval object within the image. If you look closely you will see that about the top third part (on an angle) is lighter than the rest, and that a part on the bottom right is altogether a little darker than the rest. So I draw lines to divide those sections and than look for the largest forms within those sections. That way you will find that is not that complicated after all.
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Paint Girly Stuff
Dig into your own handbag, or ask your mum, daughter, wife. sister or friend to help out.
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Paint Girl's Shoes
Take some high hill shoes and add some accessories to create an interesting illustration.
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Catch Up Day
So for tomorrow, if there is a 29th for this year. Today you can either rest, or try to finish some of the uncompleted work due for this week.
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