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One of the absolute best things about having a blog, on any subject, is that the world comes to you and, if you look, those who read and look at what you write often provide support and care and concern. Even if you haven’t met, relationships develop. There are a lot of people who inspire me, and who send me off in other directions. Reading others’ blogs, too, even if they don’t read mine, are still forms of connection in areas of common interest.
Today, I want to thank Breathing Deeply because she has said some very encouraging things – but, more – she has mentioned on her blog that she is taking classes online from Anna Mason who is a botanical watercolorist. Well, I have seen Anna Mason’s work. She is a self-taught botanical artist. Botanical art is detailed and realistic, and in some ways, not really what I aim for. Anna’s work is refreshing and beautiful. And, she has online courses. A free one to show you her teaching style, one in which she walks you through how she approaches a simple D’Anjou pear. Clearly stated, simply done, I decided “what the hell!” and dived in.
I think I might sign up! I really enjoyed what I learned, and to my way of thinking, perhaps a realistic approach will slow me down when it comes to painting. I am hasty and careless, don’t think ahead as much as I would like to when painting. My impatience leads to frustration.
So, thank you Breathing Deeply for your kind words and for your own bloggy inspiration, and to Anna Mason for providing a very nice approach to painting.
The texture of the skin is captured really well! Did you sprinkle dark colors for the spots?
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Actually, the dots were not sprinkled as with a toothbrush, but placed with the tip of a very tiny brush. It was a great project and a truly wonderful learning experience.
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Yay! You are so welcome and thank you for mentioning me in your post and I am so glad something I said sent you positive vibes. Wonderful Pair! Mine has a big gap in the side LOL. I’m so glad you jumped over and took Anna Masons tutorial. I have learned so much in the week I’ve been taking her courses. If you join, we can follow and encourage each other in another space in blogosphere! 🙂
Maggie
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I have seen her work online and liked it. Her personality is great, too. I think I will look at her YouTube stuff before diving in to a financial committment. It is funded to see how everyone does the same thing diferently.
Thanks for the inspiration!
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Her YouTube stuff is great, but it is only snippets of her full tutorials. I need the whole lesson lol.
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I know what you mean about the snippets, but personally I found the basic premise of identifying the lightest and darkest areas the key points of her work. If your palette is not transparent, that is where problems will begin when the glazing starts. Jeanne Dobie has a great book about transparent paints called “Making Watercolor Sing” which may prove helpful, as well as googling which of your colors – if you don’t have the ones Mason uses – to see if they are transparent. That may help you see things.
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Thank you so much -N- I definitely will look up the book, it sounds like just what I need. Good idea about googling my paints and seeing if they are transparent vs opaque. And you are right, Anna’s method is definitely about identifying the lightest and darkest tones….then those midtones! 🙂
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I’m lazy, so googling is a great way to not have to work too hard to find info. Sometimes.
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hahaha! me too! 🙂
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