I had that feeling, the one where you absolutely, really, totally HAVE to paint! I wanted to paint in acrylics. In my head I paint in acrylics a lot. It's been going on a while now, ever since I painted
The Blue Man, which was May 2013, the last time I actually painted in acrylics! I paint all sorts of things, in my head, flowers, portraits, abstract bird filled plains. I paint with brushes, I paint with a palette knife, in lots of lovely colour combinations. Then Alexander wakes up after being asleep for about 10 minutes and I think, just as well I haven't just mixed up those lovely colours or they'd all be about to dry out/get pawed by Loxie now! Yesterday morning though, Alexander had been asleep for 5 minutes and I couldn't resist any longer and decided I'm going to take a chance on starting a painting and who knows maybe I will get to finish it. I'll just do it in the Moleskine, just do a little sketch, small enough that I can paint it quickly before Alexander wakes up. I ran to the kitchen pencil and Moleskine in hand and sketched the three bananas on the table. Then he woke up!
But, today I finished it...in...watercolour, but hey, at least it wasn't Promarkers, I did get the enjoyment of using a brush! And I think it turned out pretty nice. I actually painted it while we were eating our breakfast and Alexander and I chatted away while I was painting. Maybe I underestimated this kid's patience after all?
I must confess that banana number 3 wasn't painted from observation because, on realising that we were out of bread and pancake equipment because I failed to go shopping yesterday, I fed it to Alexander. He ate my still life while I painted the memory of it. Anyway, here they are, bananas, one of which is in baby Alexander's tummy.
Equipment: WATERCOLOUR! (and pencil) on Moleskine Sketchbook
I usually hate bananas (I have a weird thing with food textures...and bananas...yuck!)...BUT...I love your bananas!!! Especially the one closest to the right, and where they connect together is just spot on!
ReplyDeleteI like to use watercolors (although I've been using acrylics yesterday and today like a maniac!) because they are quick and (most importantly to me) forgiving! When I was beginning, they were the first thing I felt comfortable with...they are special to me! ...but your use of them is AMAZING!!! Secretly, I want to be Amanda when I grow up! <3<3<3
Thank you Sweet. I have to admit, I also wasn't much of a fan of bananas in the past but I have got into a habit of making banana pancakes for Alexander's breakfast which he adores. That's so funny that you you want to be Amanda when you grow up because I actually want to live in the US when I grow up so maybe we could just combine the two!? xx
DeleteI love this! Well done, you did a great job here. Love your work with the watercolour. Acrylic is my first love but I do love watercolour in the sketchbook. Nice and quick to dry and a little more unpredictable - for me, anyway! I know what you mean about not knowing whether to start something during nap time! Now I'm at the other end, the naps are phasing out...which is almost worse ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you Jodi. It's so odd because this was one of those times when I thought it would turn out rubbish, what with Alexander having his beady eye on me, but it turned out well. I am coming to the end of this sketchbook and although I have lots of other half finished ones I ought to use up I really don't want to part with the Moleskine as I like the way the watercolour sits on the paper. I like the waxy texture. I've even been wondering whether it is possible to buy sheets of the Moleskine 'sketchbook' paper.
DeleteI just sent you an email that waffled on all about napping and sleeping. I think the only solution is to, like now, get up ridiculously early in the morning. Hey, at least the light is best! xx