Demo~Autumn Leaves~Mixing the Colors

Here's the photo.

What a lovely Autumn painting this will make!

This is a picture I took of a Virginia Creeper vine that graced my side porch every fall for years. 

It had a mind of it's own. If you've ever had a Creeper, you know what I mean. 

First: Draw the leaves.
If drawing is not your thing...try enlarging the picture and tracing your image onto your paper. Take care not to press too hard. Watercolor paper is very delicate.


Now: Mix the paints.
Here are the
colors we
will use:


COBALT BLUE

ALIZARIN CRIMSON

CHROME YELLOW

Now for the fun part. Just squeeze the
color from the tube onto your palette. Loosen the
condensed pigment using water and
your brush. You're simply getting the
paint ready for the paper. Let them mix
and blend and run together.
Just have fun with it!

Continue the fun by wetting each leaf individually with clear water. Drop the wet paint into each wet area. Let it bleed and run. Continue with each leaf...dropping and running from each leaf to another. Soon you will begin to see the leaves take shape and morphing into what you see in the photograph. Move from leaf to leaf like the video below...


Click the "Autumn Leaves Watercolor" video link below to take a look at the wet-in-wet process I used:

 As the painting becomes too wet, let the layers dry completely.  Then continue to add details and dark background as in the video. Your painting may look realistic or abstract, depending how much you let the paints bleed. Either way, you will have a lovely piece of art reminding you of the crisp Autumn day you painted them.

You'll be surprised at how much better your painting will look once you frame it!  It just looks more professional and finished. Go ahead and frame it and hang it on your wall...and then....start another one!

 

I loved presently this instruction for you. Come back next week for another 

Wednesday Watercolor...and in the meantime keep those brushes wet!!!

Carole

A Gift for the Closing!

I have worked with a wonderful real estate agent in Austin, Texas on several home paintings.  

This is one of the latest.  Today I've posted a few of the painting steps for this project.

After completing a detailed drawing, I masked the edges and began with the blue sky.

Completing a light wash of all the surrounding landscaping, I dropped in some shading.

A light wash on the house and steps gave me a starting point for all the values of the painting.

                  I continued to add layer upon layer, bringing out the details and enriching the values.

After many more layers, and many more hours, I pronounced the painting complete!

I loved how the purchaser personalized the gift for the client...
with a wonderful frame and charming bow!
I hope her client loved it and will enjoy it for many years to come!

Thank You, Katie!

Join me on Wednesdays for another 

Watercolor Walk Through!   

Thanks, Carole

Painting Grandma's Oakleaf Hydrangea!

Every time we go to our family farm in Alabama, I take dozens of pictures...or more!  There is something about the atmosphere and the subject matter that scream to become a painting!  

This is one of those!  

This one definitely turned out to be a time consuming labor of love. This Oakleaf Hydrangea was blooming profusely when I took many pictures and many angles. Shortly afterwards in my studio, I chose my favorite angles and decided to include the window shutters of Grandma's house. That seemed to personalize it beautifully.

I worked on the painting on and off for a couple of months.  When it finally began to take shape and I decided I liked it, I trudged ahead to complete it...petal by petal, leaf by leaf, brick by brick.

When the painting was completed, I had it framed and entered it in the Georgia Watercolor Society Membership Summer Showcase and it was accepted by the juror!


                         
                                                 
















Shortly thereafter, it was juried into the Atlanta Artist Center Gallery Show and won a second place award. It was exhibited again at AAC in the Winner's Circle Exhibition. And it was there at the reception that a lovely art collector purchased Grandma's Oakleaf!

It now hangs in her Sandy Springs home. She told me the reason she loved it was because it reminds her of her grandmother's house.  She couldn't believe the title I had given it!  Yes, very personalized!

Although the original painting has been sold, prints are available. You can contact me through my email...  carolepoolegallery@gmail.com .... or message me through my Etsy Shop ...  https://www.etsy.com/shop/carolepoolegallery

Thanks for visiting!  Come back next Wednesday for another painting process and story!

Carole

A Father's Day Gift...

Recently a client from New York asked me to paint a watercolor of her home as a gift to her husband for Father's Day.

Painting the house was a joy. It was a beautiful home with stone accents located in New York. 

I took a few pictures of my process as I painted, but was so into the painting, I forgot to take many!

 First a pencil drawing...

 Then the painting of the surround greenery and landscaping.

 Continuing with the surroundings of the house.

 The house beginning to take shape using natural mixes of grey/green 

The final painting!  Hoping her husband loved it and they will enjoy it for many years to come!

Thanks for visiting my blog....Hope to see you next Wednesday!

Fresh and Fun!

This is a lovely home that makes me so happy!  The colors are wonderful and I can't help but think it's residents skip around the house singing every day!  What a great candidate for a watercolor! I was asked to paint it by the family and couldn't wait to get started!  I've included some pictures of the process I went through in the creation of this painting.  I love how it turned out and hope it will bring as much joy to the family as it brought me while I painted.  Have fun!

Come back and visit next week for another "Wednesday Watercolor!"

Thanks for dropping by!   Carole

St. Francis Farm Animal Sanctuary: Watercolor Process

I was honored to paint the main house of this wonderful animal sanctuary in Carlisle, SC.  They provide a safe haven for pets when a traditional home isn’t a fit. Whether the reason is aging, medical or behavioral, they believe that every animal has a right to spend their life in a welcoming home environment.  Follow along as I show you my painting process and give you some information about this safe haven for animals.

Established by Last Chance Animal Rescue Founder Whitney Knowlton in 2013, St. Francis Farm is a companion animal sanctuary situated on 50 acres in Carlisle, SC. This farm is home to approximately 100 dogs and 200 cats on any given day.  Annually this location serves to harbor thousands of animals as they embark on their journey to find their new furever family. This was my reference photo for the painting.

These are the volunteers who commissioned me to paint the watercolor to present to Founder Whitney Knowlton.  A wonderful group of dedicated animal lovers and protectors. You might recognize some of these furry friends who are actually in the painting. 

Creating the Painting...

After taping the painting down, I began with a background wash.

Continuing the wash to the front yard

Starting the details on the house

Adding shadows

 Bringing in the pups

Adding details to complete the painting

The framed painting on it's way to South Carolina!

Presentation to Whitney!

I loved creating the painting for them and hope it brings them happy joy. I applaud the organization for the wonderful work they are doing. 

Please take a look at the St. Francis WEBSITE.  There is so much information and so many ways you can help.

Also... Follow their BLOG and FACEBOOK PAGE

Thank you for visiting my page,    Carole