dear reader,
how are you? i am fine.
i’ve been getting into lots of one-point perspective practice., not that you’d guess that from the watercolor above. it’s very difficult for my brain to understand, but like all things i think with practice it will improve.
careful study reveals which way lines on buildings travel, but i find i have to concentrate too hard to get them right. i’m engrossed at present in THIS detailed tutorial. vanishing points, horizon lines, yadda yadda yadda. it’s all there.
the more i study, the less i’ll need to concentrate in the field, as it were.
that’s the idea anyway.
one can also place trees and various shrubbery in front of things too difficult to master.
behold my extremely lightweight travel palette. wait. you can’t really see it. well, you get the idea! it’s a fold open deal that holds watercolor blobs in the bottom & lid.
found this vintage stockholm map.
i’m taking photos of different parts to paint & label with gouache. labeling things gives me a v. high level of satisfaction.
taking photos of small sections is enormously helpful in figuring out which part to draw. i just figured that out 10 seconds ago when i was uploading these pics. that’s me, always learning!
scene 1: looking out the living room window…
scene 2: at the mechanics…
i’m glad my car conked out yesterday instead of on my way to the airport next week. oyvey!
back soon with a report on how my crash course in perspective is shaping up.
hope you’re well. hope you’re happy. hope you’re doing things that please you.
yours truly,
MAM
That Stockholm watercolor is STUNNING. I love the freedom and looseness in your work; prespective study will simply make it even better. You have the right balance between the two; it’s so inspiring. I put “MAM goes to Sweden” on my OWN calendar – LOL! Between this and the Tour de France, it’s going to be a good summer of virtual travel.
Perspective practice is good, but your own stylization is v. v. good also. Love, love the Stockholm sketch. 🙂
thank you for the introduction to that website. great learning opportunity.
Perspective and shading are H A R D. Don’t you just wish what you see can just translate to paper without all the tedious learning? Ha. Everything you do is beautiful and I love the freeness of your watercolor. It makes me lighten my expectations and give it a go. If everything was perfect, I wouldn’t even begin to try. Have a wonderful trip! I’m headed on an apartment hunting trip to Japan on Sunday! YIKES!
Thanks for the perspective lesson. I definitely need to spend some time there studying. I can never get the angles right when drawing buildings and other structures. I am sure I can learn however! Have a wonderful time on your trip. I recently purchased the expeditionary travel kit and am trying to decide which 14 colors to put in my palette. I usually have 20+ so it is a quandary. I know I can mix but I am lazy and like the consistency of a already mixed color. Need to decide soon however, as I will be away for several months starting Monday.
Aloha, Kate
papercracker,
i have heard of peerless, in fact a very nice reader of this blog, lori, sent me some earlier this year. i concur they are fabulous & fun!
Have you heard of Peerless watercolors? They look highly portable – the paint is a dry film on something like cardstock. I have not used them personally but know of a lot of people who like them for their ease of use, especially for those who like to journal on the go.
And the anticipation builds! Yippee!!! Very excited that I will have a first person report on Stockholm as it’s on my list and it’s always good to get in-the-field-reports. Take notes. Photographs. And then leave out no pertinent detail in your reporting.
I await the first dispatch.
As always, travel safely.
XO
Looking forward to you upcoming jaunt across the ocean probably as much as you are…well maybe, that kind of thing can be hard to calculate accurately so lets just say I’m over the moon and excited of the jumping up and down sort, kind of like your wee students on their last day of class. 😉 Your little village is sooooooo very delightful. You are getting very, very good at your sketchin and drawin’ stuff. Gotta spend some time checkin out that link. Sad about your car though, car hiccups are never fun, but I agree, good to happen sooner than later right before a trip. Gotta nip them in the tush ASAP. Enjoy your day and keep on sketchin.
When I was in Highschool my wonderful art teacher tried teaching us perspective. He sent us with sketch pads outside of the school and had us draw the buildings. I had no flipping idea what he was talking about but I dutifully held my pencil out at arms length and closed one eye like I knew how it was done.and then just drew as well as I could:). HE was a great teacher. I was a fabulous fake…to this day! Good thing I like the imperfection of freestyle drawing/ painting. I do love what you have done, Mary Ann.
I SO admire your adventurous spirt, never ending quest for learning and inquiring mind and your totally LAID BACK approach to it all. Admirable, Ms. MaryAnn. Admirable. Jesus, I think I’ve become a fan YIKES
Hi Mary Ann,
I’m well, I’m happy, and I’m doing things that please me, such as pinning your watercolor of Stockholm. Hope you don’t mind. It’s quite lovely.
Sincerely.
Maria