COLORS OF THE RAINBOW

                                                     
                                                           Down On Marigold Creek
                                               8 x 10                                           watercolor


The painting I've shown you today is my new Yellow Labrador painting of a laid back dog just hangin' out in a favourite place. And I can't think of any word that describes the Labrador better than 'laid back'. They are wonderful, sweet dogs. 
But it's not really this painting I want to talk about at this time. I wanted to talk a little bit about COLOR and the watercolor artist.  Have you guessed yet that I am wild about color?  I know of many watercolor artists who limit themselves to a very few colors and them mix the rest of what they need from those colors.  Some refuse to use any color that isn't translucent, while others nearly faint at the thought of using Titanium White or Chinese White. "Hey, this is watercolor!  You use the paper as the white!"   Gouache or Body Color aren't to be considered at all.   But gosh, look at all the luscious colors they are missing!
After years of experience and learning about Watercolors, I happily use a great many of the colors you find on the watercolor displays.      Mostly, I use Winsor Newton or Daniel Smith paints, because they are each a professional paint - rich in pigment, consistent, and reliable. (But be sure to buy the Artist's Quality in WN, not the Coteman unless you are a student, when the Coteman may be the better  choice for stretched student budgets. And remember that there are other fine choices out there too.  I've just mentioned the ones that I like best and that are easily available to me.) The only ones I tend to stay away from are the extremely non-permanent or Fugitive colors. Some of these colors are beautiful, therefor  more permanent versions have, thankfully, been developed.  I also have to add, that at this time, I don't use Gouache at all. I've found that I don't particularly care for  the way the chalky look of Gouache combines with the brighter, sparkle of watercolor.
  I choose to stay away from the limited palette of primaries plus one or two, with the rest being artist mixed.  Just think, the paint companies made all those beautiful colors; it seems a shame not  to use them. :-0
I use translucent colors of course, but I also use the opaque watercolors, and the trick there is that they need a careful hand if they are to retain the life and sparkle essential for a successful watercolor painting.  Once in a while, for a particular effect, I use a heavier body color, but it must be done sparingly, and the same goes for the whites - Titanium and Chinese.  I sometimes blend Chinese white with a color to obtain a soft pastel, and I use Titanium for tiny hairs, sparkles, and very tiny highlights.  I know I could, (and have) paint around those areas I want to remain white, or I could masque them, or scratch them out later, but of all these little watercolor tricks, I much prefer to use a very small amount of Titanium.  Once again, "tiny" and "sparing" are the watchwords here.
Oh, and there's one or two other little tricks that Titanium White can perform for you, but that would be telling :-)
So who's right, the artists who prefer to mix most of their own colors, the artist's who would rather switch to acrylic rather than use body color, opaque colors or the whites, or the artists like myself who enjoy using all colors plus white in the correct manner?
You're right!  Whatever you said, you're right!  No one is wrong here. Just as there is room for all styles of painting and all (better make that 'most') subjects, I firmly believe there is no wrong answer - there is room for all the ways that artists use watercolor to develop their individual styles.  Happy painting!!




Heather Anderson


www.heatheranderson-animalart.com




watercolor painting, Labrador Retriever Art, Yellow Lab art, Heather Anderson Animal Art, Sheltie Hollow

PEACE

When you've been used to life being quite hectic, a day or two when everything is going well and you can just noodle around becomes a very precious commodity.  These last few weeks, there always seems to have been something to make me crazy, but things are opening up to a peaceful day here and there where I can paint again with all my concentration.  Bliss.
I embarked on a series of Spaniel paintings a while ago, and I'm finally nearly done.  Two more to go, and my set of Spaniels is complete - until I decide to revisit them. 
This one is the English Cocker Spaniel, a lovely, lively companion who is quite different from his American cousin in looks. This fellow is a Blue Roan, but they also appear in solid colors and Parti-color (black or any shade of tan/red/blond and white). I don't see many of these little beauties where I live, so every time I meet one is a treat.
This 6 x 8 watercolor is available as the original, a small print, or notecards. Any one of these, or a combination would make a great show award.

MELLOW DAYS

We're starting into my favorite time of year. I love late summer and Autumn. The garden has gone through the sometimes blistering heat of July and is settling into the more peaceful days of August. I'm hoping this will be an allegory of our lives. In these past months, we've come through a blistering time too, and are hoping that things will be settling into a slower, more peaceful pace. 
Some of the earlier blooming poppies are setting seed already, and the pods are dry and ready to have the seeds gathered for next  year.  I leave some of them to be sown by the air, because that leads to nice surprises, but I like to have some to place exactly where I want them too.  This past summer, my choice of place was the wrong one, and the only poppies we had to enjoy were the ones sown last autum by the "wind faeries". They were wiser than I. 
The Lunaria (such a beautiful name) is ready to be gathered a bit early too, so I have an envelope of papery discs tucked away for next year.
The Shelties can enjoy a stroll in the garden again, as the mosquito population is slowing down. Sitting on the back porch with a cool something to sip on before dinner is becoming a pleasure again too.
And you know the best part of August now?  Neither my Sweetie nor I has to get ready to go back to school in a few short weeks!  Life is good :-)

Crushed Raspberries and Lace

A week or so ago, my trusty little Canon digital bit the dust.  Well, not dust exactly, but a battery seemed to have sprung a leak, and when I tried to take a photo, nothing happened.  Because I had just put new batteries in it, I had a look, and found "stuff" all over the bottom and inside the camera.  Not good. I may at some point have it repaired if possible, but I needed a camera 'now'.  This was the camera I often took along just in case I saw something I wanted to photograph. So I went shopping, looking for something inexpensive this time, but able to do what I needed to do.
I was introduced to a Sony Cybershot, waay more than I wanted to spend. BUT, there was one, lonely last year's model left over, and it was  offered to me at less than half price. I am now the happy owner of a great little camera that takes great photos, is slim enough to fit in any handbag, something the other one was not, so this one really can go everywhere with me, and best of all, it is a delightful shimmering crushed raspberry in color. Well YES, color is important! :-0
While we were driving along the other day, I commented how beautiful the roadsides looked, now that the municipality is no longer spraying them with weed killer. At this time of year, they are thick with Queen Anne's Lace, blowing and billowing in the breeze. So I whipped out my trusty little camera, and now I can share our beautiful country roadsides with you. Have a lovely day everyone :-)
Heather Anderson   . . . . .  .Sheltie Hollow
http://www.heatheranderson-animalart.com/