January Water Media Challenge 2025

[Rikard]

Another one based on the photo of the cliffs overlooking the sea. Edit: Colour are a bit off compared to the sketch.

 

[PaintBoss]

Very nice capture indeed!
Yes, exploring and trying new things and learning is all the fun! I’m so pleased to see your paintings.

 

[Joy]

I am so enjoying the other works and finally got this done. It is very overworked,, and I only finished after several frustrating sessions b/c my husband was so very encouraging. This is watercolor on Arches 140CP, 9 x 7.

 

[PaintBoss]

Well, you may see where it’s overworked, but I think you did a bang up job with this one. The picture was dark to begin with. And don’t you just love supportive partners. Often they’re right we are frustrated at a different level. But they can sit back and look at the big picture and say actually it’s very good even though you know that you don’t like A, B or C. My husband will also remind me that he can’t see any problems and I’m the only one who knows about them. Which is true most of the time. Thank you for doing this. I’ve just not felt well enough to do anything this month -to my frustration. Great job!

 

[Joy]

Christine - thank you for the kind words. I hope you will feel up to doing something in the near future. Since I am very slow, I often post in a thread well after the "assigned" month. Since the ref photo was dark, I looked at some other ones of the same fish.

 

[PaintBoss]

Thank you very much. I always like seeing your work whenever it turns up. It’s kind of nice to know that people still are interested in the reference photos and are inspired to do some art because of them even if it’s past that month.

 

[KreativeK]

txomsy, such super exciting sketches! I'll wait to see if you develop them further.

Sanlynn, loving your works on black supports and this hibiscus in gouache does not disappoint.

Rikard, your loose almost abstract scenes are truly fabulous!

Joy, be proud of your fish. The water and scales pattern is subtle and muted as should be with this subject. Bravo!

 

[Rikard]

Love the fish Joy Doesn't look overworked at all.

I gave one of the photos with palm leafs another try. I'am happy with parts of it.
but I do struggle to abstract/simplify the middle ground. I need practice, which is good

 

[Joy]

Rikard, I really admire the way you have accomplished the simplification of shapes and composition in multiple works here. It is hard for me to be anything but literal.

 

[Rikard]

Rikard, I really admire the way you have accomplished the simplification of shapes and composition in multiple works here. It is hard for me to be anything but literal.

Thank you Joy. Very kind of you to say so. I think I need to figure out how to better do bushes and foliage though. Among other things

 

[PaintBoss]

Rikard, what a lovely painting. You’ve got the wonderful feel of the picture with the lighting and all the stuff going on. I think the simplication works really well. It’s your own style and it reminds me of some wonderful illustrative styles I’ve seen. Those photos had so much going on. You were wise to make some artistic judgements there about what stays in and what goes. Great job.

 

[Joy]

Rikard, I know very little about abstract art. I think your shapes are good, but my personal preference is more tonal contrast. Maybe more values in the foliage would be desirable.

 

[Rikard]

Rikard, I know very little about abstract art. I think your shapes are good, but my personal preference is more tonal contrast. Maybe more values in the foliage would be desirable.

Joy, I think you are spot on. More tonal variation is needed. Even though I paint loose and naive/abstract, I still want things to be recognisable to at least some extent. I might give it another go in a few days

 

[ams]

txomsy, nice sketches. They are all ready to add a touch of color for line and wash.

Sanlynn, nice job on the hibiscus. The black background worked really well here.

Rikard, nice simplifications of complex subjects. That's always a problem for me.

Joy, your fish doesn't look overworked to me. I think it came out beautifully. I love your hint of scales and the way you captured the transparency of the fins. Nice background as well.

I did the hibiscus. Ink and Inktense wash in XL Mixed Media sketchbook, about 8"x7".

Thanks for hosting Christine.

 

[Joy]

Anne - that is stunning and should be framed! The way you blended the colors is beautiful.

 

[KreativeK]

Love your flamboyant hibiscus, Anne!

 

[PaintBoss]

Ann, the flower turned out beautifully. I agree it should be framed!
Rikard, keep exploring with the tonal contrast. It might be fun to do a second painting and take it further. Or keep working on the original painting but take a photo of it at each stage to see what you like best. Sometimes it’s difficult when you like a painting to keep pushing, but I find that’s how I grow as an artist.
I would like to thank everyone who dropped in on this thread and everyone who participated. It was a slow month for your hostess, but I sure enjoyed seeing your paintings. If anyone wants to still work away and submit on this thread in the future, I would love to see your work.

 

[Joy]

Christine, thanks again for hosting.