Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Watercolour Paintings

I might have issues.  Might.

When I was an early teen, my mom gave me this awesome art set.  It had water colours, acrylics, awesome brushes, canvases, pastels.  It was amazing.  I looked at it often, wishing I was a great painter.

After many years of staring at the paint set, I finally got up the nerve to paint something.  I was terrified.  I am perfectionistic by nature and I didn't want to ruin the paints or the canvases.  But on this day I was more brave than afraid.  I got out a canvas, grabbed a brush and then squeezed the paint onto the palette.  Nothing happened.  I squeezed again.  Nothing.

I had left the paints for so long that they had petrified into tiny little acrylic rocks.  Now that I wanted to paint, I couldn't.  How sad was that.

Well, weep no tears for me because One Artsy Mama was about to change me.  As you probably know, she has an artsy 3-year-old son who is already painting awesome things, no doubt because of his talented Mama's genes and example.  These two artists have inspired me to give painting a try.  One project in particular caught my eye, Amy's We Walk by Faith watercolour.  Isn't it gorgeous!

We Walk By Faith
So,.....I put on my big girl panties, dug down deep to find some courage, and this is how it all went down.

I grabbed my dollar store watercolours (true).


Plopped them onto my expensive pallette (which held cheese slices earlier).


And I was off to the races.


I got out my new spring stamp and painted it up.



Ouch.  Hmmm,...that didn't work very well.  I think I took too long and the paint dried.


So I tried again and it was a little better.


Next I used the advanced artist's technique of 'spatter' (aka smacking the brush so paint flies off of it).  Oh yeah,...I was morphing into a true artist (pronounced ar-teest).


I did three small paintings in all.  This one is quite obviously some purple flowers.



 This last one is a tribute to my moody side.  (Aren't all artists a little melancholy?)  It's supposed to be buildings in the back, trees and bushes in the front.  Never mind, it can be whatever you want it to be.


In the end, I can't say that I'm an artist, but I was really surprised at how much fun this was.  I will definitely be trying this again, maybe even graduating to the mixed media class next time.  Thanks to Amy and Little Crafter for their inspiration.

What craft or activity have you been putting off trying?

This is where I'm partying:
Wow Us Wednesday (Savvy Southern Style)
What We Made and Wore (Rae Gun Ramblings)
Link It Up Wednesday (Junk In Their Trunk)
Rock n Share (The Shady Porch)
Time For A Party (Fine Craft Guild)
It's A Party (A Creative Princess)
Thriving on Thursdays (Domesblissity)
Blog Stalking Thursday (The Crafty Blog Stalker)
Taking a Timeout Thursday (Mom on Timeout)
Delightfully Inspiring Thursday party (Delightful Order)
Things I've Done Thursday (Bear Rabbit Bear)
Super Sweet Thursday Par-tay (Fabulously Flawed)
Freestyle Friday (Happy Hour Projects)
Shine on Fridays (One Artsy Mama)

14 comments:

Jen..The Butterfly Effect said...

Wow! That was such a brave attempt on your part!! :)

Painting ,if that is in you, please never inhibit yoruself into venturing new avenues! My mom is an artist herself! She used to export her oil paintings to Russia,Canada and the like till bro and me came to add on to her miseries! ;) Keep painting Terry! :)

Pam @Threading My Way said...

If it's fun, keep doing it. Who knows how much latent artistic abilities you have. I love the purples, blues and greens you've used. I've been putting off learning how to thread and use my new overlocker. I know it won't be that hard when I do it, but I don't like using new mechanical things. Silly, I know, because it's my second overlocker.

Carol-Anne said...

That's actually very good! (much better than what I do with art, as you know!)

I love the colours you've chosen and I knew what the pictures were even without your explanations!

You go, you Emily Carr, you!

Unknown said...

Great work, Terry! I'm so excited that you decided to give it a try! It's just so fun, isn't it? I love watching the colors mix together. I think your purple flowers are my favorite! So proud of you!

Unknown said...

I totally agree...it is fun! I love doing art projects...it feels good to find a new way to express myself! Your projects are fun and I really like the flowers! Thanks for sharing at the Rock 'N Share.

Andi said...

I like your moody side best. Those purple flowers caught my eye. Keep it up you never know where it will go. andi

Maureen Wyatt said...

As an auction fanatic and thrift store addict, I see too many things that are saved until it is too late to use them. Now that you've busted out the paint, there's no telling what you will dream up! ~ Maureen

Unknown said...

Look at you being all brave and stuff!! I have looked at canvases and never dared by one. Something about all that white waiting for an amazing painting can be intimidating. I am so glad you went for it!! I love them all, but am kind of drawn to the blue one. I hope we will get to see more paintings from you!:)

Adrianne Surian said...

Oh Terry, that's some excellent symbolism right there with your paints. :) I'd say you paint a great picture but I hate to be full of puns this morning, LOL.

I love the purple flower one, and I love that you tried something new! I can't paint either... but I have enough other creative obsessions that I'm OK with that. I can't be good at everything, right?? :)

Terri @ A Creative Princess said...

I am so not worthy! Wow! Look at your hidden talent shining! When I sit and draw with the grandkids, even Tierni laughs at my drawings! Dang critics!

I could totally see the buildings and bushes. You did awesome!

Macey said...

Those are all cool! I love your moody side one. :)

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

I love the moody one. Surprising, right? Seriously, your paintings are really cute, and sing Spring.

Melanie @ bear rabbit bear said...

Looks great! I like the stamp addition! Thanks for sharing at Things I've Done Thursday! www.bearrabbitbear.com

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

I love the purple flowers. Seriously you should frame that one. The blue sky is the perfect touch. Glad you finally did something you have been thinking about...remember we aren't getting any younger!

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