Watercolor Pouring Method By Verna Pooler

Verna Pooler is currently working on a  watercolor technique called  the watercolor pouring method. You can see the beautiful results for yourself.

Watercolor By Verna Pooler

Where To Go From Here - By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas

I have studied impressionism, tonalism and now I am studying expressionism. I am struggling with the latter.  This does not mean I am giving up but it certainly supports the saying "Life is short. Art is long".

Harbor Study On Linen Sheet By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas

"Teasel At Whaleshead" By Verna Pooler

Well I finished my watercolor of Whaleshead...K.I.S.S; Teasel at Whaleshead.  There are areas I could spend more time improving, but I reminded my self to keep it simple...Just not soon enough.

"Teasel At Whaleshead" By Verna Pooler - Watercolor On Paper

Harris Beach Saga - By Verna Pooler

I have been working on the Harris Beach saga for a couple weeks.  I work between plein air and photos.  I started with a thumb nail.  Then proceeded with a full size drawing, two color studies and two paintings 30"x19".  Is Harris Beach 1 or Harris Beach 2 better? Perhaps, I should continue with another.

Thumbnail Sketch

Harris Beach Color Study 1

Harris Beach Color Study 2

Harris Beach 1

 

Harris Beach 2

Composition, Values, Big Forms, Details and Brush Work - By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas

My goal  was to practice painting large shapes with their correct values. I also wanted to limit my brushstrokes and ensure the forms were successfully described using directional brush work.  All the pieces were  painted with limited palette.They are all painted from the same photo except edited differently.
If you struggle with plein air paintings, this is an excellent exercise.

Original photograph  taken north of Brookings, Oregon.

Simplified shapes and brushwork.

Composition changed slightly. 

Another composition changed with larger brush strokes. 

This composition is more like the original photo.

Can You Relate To This Plein Air Experience? By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas

I was happily painting this street scene in my neighborhood and not quite done when -

Not quite done...

this van parked right in front of me. Can you relate to this plein air experience?

"Mysterious White Van" - 6"x 8" Oil on Canvas Board

"Springtime At Whaleshead" By Verna Pooler

Finished the plein air painting...next time I will have to finish it on site!

"Springtime At Whaleshead" By Verna Pooler - Watercolor On Paper

"Whaleshead Storm" By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas

I painted 6 Whaleshead studies the last 3 days. I am enjoying the different weather conditions on the coast. This was a challenge because I have not practiced clouds. So I brought this piece into my studio to finish it.

"Whaleshead Storm" By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas - 6"X 8" Oil with Brush on Pintura Canvas Board

Layering Color With Brushwork By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas

I take classes often to improve my brushwork technique. This method below is carefully layering color so that the under painting continues to show.
You start with a large brush - size 8 flat - and as you layer the color you go to smaller brushes such as a 4  or 2 flat.
The focal point has sharp edges and the color intensity is pushed - again -while keeping the under painting. At the end is when you  focus the directional strokes to create form and with the right color and value.

"Rooster #3" By Verna Pooler

I didn't like my background.  After washing off the background, I painted it black...works.

"Rooster #3" By Verna Pooler, Watercolor On Paper

One Day Color Pencil Workshop By Verna Pooler

Today, I attended a one day color pencil workshop at Pt. Reyes. Enjoyed it but have so much to learn. A  total change in pace:)

"Rooster" By Verna Pooler

Painted rooster on gold gesso 300# watercolor paper using 3 colors: cad orange, quin. magenta, and turquoise. A challenging triad. Guess I'll be doing more roosters. There were so many on Kauai.

"Rooster" By Verna Pooler - Watercolor on Paper

Black and White Studies By Verna Pooler

My struggle continues with abstract value studies.

Is there hope?:)

Guess, I had better suck it up and try again.

"Beach Memory" By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas

This is an oil with palette knife painted by Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas in the french impressionist style. There was no black paint used to create this artwork.
It is a wet-on-wet technique where the paints are layered to keep the initial under painting. The under painting starts with pure color perhaps some white to create the correct value.

 "Beach Memory" By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas - 8"x10" Oil on Canvas Board

"Rooster" By Verna Pooler

I've tried to do a grayed abstract value, but making no progress. I can mix the phthalocyanine blue and vermilion and get three values.  Don't know how to stop before it is a goner!!!
At Tuesday painters, I painted a rooster from a pic I took in Kauai. Now, I look at it and see too much pure color. Who said being retired is easy?

"Rooster" By Verna Pooler - Watercolor on Paper

"Have A Glass" By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas

I took yesterday's study and painted it on an 8"X10" board.  I pushed the color just a bit more and painted thicker.

"Have A Glass" By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas  Oil on 8"X10" Board

"Urban Plein Air" By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas

I was up early painting the other morning to meet with some Urban painters and before I knew it, it was time to go home.  What a great way to spend the hours. 

"Urban Plein Air"  By Eva Marie Tanner-Klaas -  8"x10"Canvas Board in Oil

"Knitting Challenge" By Verna Pooler

Definitely out of my comfort zone! But, didn't want to give up:)

"Knitting Challenge" By Verna Pooler - Watercolor On Paper