Gorgeous and glittering greens in watercolor.

Deep Jade, emerald, teal, sage,  moss green, olive,  aquamarine,  viridian.  All of these wonderful variations, are just so lovely.

And, the process of mixing and creating your own watercolor greens is a rewarding, exciting roller coaster ride. But, we don’t always have to mix our own paint!

Viridian Green Watercolor

Viridian watercolor  pg18   –  Identification.

This number “PG18”  found on the side of the tube,  it lets you know that the paint color is Pigment Green 18.

That is is The genuine pigment for viridian.

This lovely green watercolor paint is a transparent, its not a stainer.  So it is ‘softer’ and less intense and ‘shouty’  in a painting than  Phalo green, Sap green, Hookers green, etc. are.

As a Watercolor Beginner, I learned the hard way,  to look closer at my tubes of paint.

I discovered I had about 5 tubes of prussian blue,  4 brands of phalo blue, and several tubes I ‘thought’ were cobalt that were not!     They were cobalt ‘hues’  ie  ultramarine or phalo blue.  I wasn’t really overly happy at the waste of expense.

So now,  I look at the label on the tube before I buy to double check.  Its been a slow, long process, learning the paints.

But  I just made it easy at first and wrote down 2 to remember.

Then a couple weeks later 2 more, and so on. Easy Peasy.

I found books by  Michael Wilcox and Hilary Page very insightful.  The  Daniel Smith art store online information was also was a help.

Amazon has Michael Wilcox’s   Guide to Watercolors  book  

and  Hilary Page’s   Watercolor Guide    

Ways to Use Viridian Green

A Transparent paint,  Viridian pg18  makes a great glazing color due to its clarity and freshness. It really rarely makes mud. Its easy to remove off the paper when you need to, in case of oops!

It is a cool green and pairs up brilliantly with salmon pinks, lilacs, violets.

The  green and violet duo is a favorite cool and refreshing match up, that I love using.

Viridian and Color Mixing

If I’m trying to paint a more representation subject, say a  landscape –   then I wouldn’t  use viridian straight out of the tube.

Its best,  looks more ‘natural’  if  the viridian is tamed.

Tone it down with an earth color:

•  raw umber
• raw sienna
• burnt sienna
• raw umber, with ultramarine and viridian  makes  Delightful soft green hills
• These are my usual “go to’s”   with  viridian green watercolor  mixes

Having said that,  I definitely do not need to be quite as vigorous with the taming when I use Viridian as when I use Phalo green, Hookers,  or  Sap green!

With those wild childs of green,  I really have to whack in to the earth colors to tone them down to get a more subtle effect.

More Green Watercolor  Posts…..

Green foliage 

Colors of GREEN  

Green Earth Paint 

Depth: Background Middleground Foreground

Watercolor Materials Paints Getting Started 

Summary

Viridian,  pg18  is my pick  over phalo green or sap green  as the more versatile, useful color – for me,  generally speaking.  I do paint a lot of impressionist landscapes, flowers and find it more amenable.

With abstracts I can….  and will,  uncap the loud, the brave, the shouters.  And roll the dice!

A slow dance of the warm and golden flower petals.

Softly, the delicate petals fade along the grooved and finely textured watercolor paper’s edges and borders.

The Muses

The Muses of art, imagination, inspiration continue to make magic…..

From within the heat of the bright scarlet center a magic radiates through.

My watercolor abstract flower is Finished!

Additional Posts of Interest

31 Muses of May

Muses  Being Inspired

Abstract art

Watercolor Techniques

Watercolour Materials and Papers

Scarlet Love           

“Today’s weather forecast:  dry barren parched,  with a slim thread of a chance of rain.”

I  peer out the window, from the small airplane flying over the Australian Outback scrublands  – and look below to see this golden starkness.

Back in the studio,   I mix and paint with my watercolors. Bringing back to mind those recollections.  And Feelings.

Calling…. the scene back to mind.

Watercolors, Abstracts and The Outback

The Australian Outback seen from above is a glorious abstraction of nature.

Salt pan lakes, emerald and jade green ponds dot the area, winding river courses looking like webs and entangled root systems all make for perfect subjects…..  For Watercolor Semi Abstract Landscapes!

In my painting, the drought stricken golden earth is dominant.

With a small hint of sage green along a meandering, but dried up river bed.

And, the Green perylene watercolor paint is used subtly.

Judiciously.

A Duet:  Colors Used

The two watercolors I used were Naples Yellow and Perylene Green.

A limited palette makes life simpler. Calmer.

By just using the 2 colors:

• Creates unity through out;
• there is no worry about  ‘mixing a bunch of colors;’
• its much easier to achieve better  contrasts for beginners;
• it creates mood and ambience;
• it created a feeling of barrenness  I was aiming for.

• Naples Yellow – Daniel Smith watercolor  (Pw4, Py25, Pr101)
• Perylene Green Daniel Smith …..  (Pbk31)
• I also quite like Winsor and Newton’s Perylene green, as well.

Watercolor Painting Process

• The process of creating the abstract landscape was fairly fast and simple.
• Its just a matter of timing the paint applications.
• I need to be sure the Naples Yellow is still dampish on the paper when I put the green in.
• I don’t want the Naples Yellow too sloppy wet. Nor bone dry.
• That’s the ‘Fine Line’ I need to adhere to.

1.    I applied Naples Yellow watercolor first
2.    then tilted the paper, Slightly….
3.     while applying the Perylene green.

Where they ran and blended together, they shimmered abit and had fluctuations in their tones.

This creates  a  very pretty variation of pattern and texture. Perfect technique for the semi abstract watercolor landscape I thought.

My motto is:

If at first go I do not get it “perfect”  nor  get it quite right,

I’ll just  have several more plays!

MORE  Fun!

I did several before this one happened. Some went crazy.  Some were too dry.

But this one… is just right.

It has a zen quality to it, that pleases me.

To be honest,  I was   very happy while doing the others  too as it is such good fun.

Additional Posts of Interest

These 7 previous posts  relate  to the post theme today.   If you haven’t already read them, please do!

Colors of Green i 

Viridian   green watercolors ii 

Watercolours Red Dragon …   Naples Yellow

Zen  Simply  

Zen of Art:  Taming the Dragon “perfectionism”

Monochromes  6 Reasons to use  them 

Power in the Limited Palette 

A  Beautiful  anonymous quote:

 

“The earth

has music for those

who listen.”

Summary

Watercolor Semi Abstract Landscape in  Naples Yellow and Perylene Green  illustrates how effective and powerful a limited palette of two colors, can be.

31 Days of May and the painting pressure is on!   But, it seems The Muse of Abstraction has shown her face today.

Yet, I had secretly hoped for the arrival of the Muse  “Delight in the Dance.”

And that with my Brush, the Muse and myself we’d have a lovely time, and not entertain the Muse of Tragedy.

Photo #1    This is the normal uncut regular view of the subject.

5 Steps To Abstracting Designs

Going From the regular view,  I’ve  now zoomed in closer in Photo #2.   I’m  zeroing in on just a few of the petal shapes.

In Photo #3,  I’ve watercolored a foundation in golden orange and let it dry.

Then I went over the top, with a heavy marker.  Defining big exaggerated, broad petal shapes.

Unhindered by the ‘real’ color,  or the ‘real’ shapes’  or the ‘real’  tones.   At this point all I’m after is a design in lines.  An abstracted version of a floral subject!

Photo #4    I’ve made the watercolor background a pinker version.

Glazing over, to create a coral shade.  Then  retracing the design, discarding some of the exterior petals.

This creates a more abstract design.

In photo #5  I went completely digital.  Just as a What If exercise.

Into photoshop, zooming into some areas, layering, adding and cropping. Then using multiple drawing and painting tools and filters. Plus played with the mirror image.  More Recoloring and cropping. ……..    What I do like about it, are the negative spaces.

These 5 images   show the steps of the journey that the Muse of Abstraction had in store for me today.

The Muses of Art

Muses are funny, fickle and fleeting.  They certainly can never be forced into obedience either.  They show as they will. Or not.

And, you get the one that deigns to visit.

Summary

I’ve done better.  I’ve done worse.  There is Always Tomorrow.

Tomorrow,  I’m sure will be better!

In the meantime:    My job, …. is to show up to the paper.

And Begin.

I was so hoping for the arrival of the Muse  “Delight in the Dance.”    That with my Brush, the Muse and myself we’d have a lovely time, and not entertain the Muse of Tragedy.

Additional Posts you may be interested in:

The Muses     aquileana.wordpress.com

A wonderfully rich in depth article on the mythology of the Muses!!

Design Lines

31 Days of May  

Taming the Dragon of Perfectionism      

Gumnut flowers 

Rose creations 

Easy and fast.  I really like this watercolor flower technique when pressed for time.  Its a simple thing to get out the Rekab #2  320s watercolor brush and mix up a couple of pretty colors!

Watercolor Flower Technique

I actually don’t know of anyone else who has done this, but I can’t possibly be the only person to have used the brush this way.  Its not a unique Debi Riley watercolor flower technique that I am aware of!

The Steps Used

1. Load up my brush with the orange yellow first
2. and then dunk it into the deeper darker,  toned red pink last
3. Hold the brush pointed towards me at 12 o’clock
4. and then simply rotate it clockwise in a nudging, gentle fashion on the paper
5. releasing the colors on the watercolor paper … gently
6. leaving a nice big center, that is irregular in shape
7. when its dry, if you choose,
8. return to it and put a pale cream butter jot of yellow within part of the center
9. not mid tone yellow, but clear and transparent
10. keep it simple – keep it fun!

I like to keep my watercolor flower centres white.  They sparkle that way.

It enhances the bold impact, the loveliness of the shape the white has created!!  When I ‘add yellow’  it always,  takes away from the impact, the clarity, the ‘oomph’   I had hoped for.

So, now – I just leave it out.

Doing several watercolor flowers, to get the ‘hang’ of it is a great idea.

But its a fun and simplified version to painting nice little watercolor floral cards.

Or simply just a relaxing form of zen –  meditation, really.

Posts

Easy Beginners Watercolour Techniques 

Quick and Easy Iris Bud 

Watercolour Flower

What’s   happening in May

It is Day 18 of the May Challenge I’ve committed to with Laura at createarteveryday.com and Margaret at   yubagold.wordpress.com     Daring Watercolors.

We’ve chosen to  “create something”  and post each of the days of May.

Some days the Muse is with me.  Some days she is not.  Muses,  as I’ve mentioned ….come and go at their pleasure. Not mine.

We’re not always, 24-7 “on”   nor do I expect myself to be perfect. To create something that draws oohs and ahs  each post.

Its not possible. Nor,  is it a reasonable expectation of myself.

In the midst of this May Challenge,  my computer backup system had a failure along with my hard drive failing… losing all photos and docs of the past. But, I’m so  lucky to have the 300+  compressed images on WordPress!!

My next post will feature a walk through a few chosen gardens of the past, using some of my remaining WordPress images.

For a list of stockists and  art store suppliers for the Rekab 320s  #2  brush  see my post  Watercolor Brushes.

I personally, have bought and tried over 300 brushes.

And,  just saying….   the Rekab is the only one I can get to cooperative with me nicely,  to create these easy watercolor flowers that sparkle!  

Would you like to know a few simple steps and techniques to be able to create a more visually stimulating watercolor painting? Collage, is a wonderful solution for the creative and the imaginative artist seeking….More!

“Indigo and Copper Bay”   watercolor on Strathmore paper.

Textures of Watercolor

There are many methods and techniques that you can use to create textural effects in watercolor:  collage, dry brush, molding paste, glad wrap, splatter, salt, powders, charging, and many more.

With collage you can use your own textures. You can create these textures on an assortment of  watercolor papers, all giving a huge range of effects.

Today’s  sample illustrates  the  integrated use of color, tone, wet in wet and collage to arrive at a raised and sculptural look for the “Indigo and Copper Bay” watercolor art image.

Process and Textural Effects

The steps I used to achieve this watercolor texture took time.

It was over a period of 6 months that this image developed and ‘evolved.’

I didn’t rush it.

I had many more papers.  I had many more works in progress.

Most did not make the grade. I’m ok with that.

I learned many things from each of those that did not make the grade.

I used each  of them to learn and gain something new.

There was no loss.

Only Gain.

I always, try to remember that.

STEPS:

• First, I applied a wet in wet wash over an old Strathmore paper
• Let this dry thoroughly
• Next I applied some acrylic matte medium lightly,  to some thin tissue paper
• and adhered onto the Strathmore in folds randomly
• Let this dry thoroughly   (I waited a couple of days)
• Then I dampened the entire paper
• Mixed up a juicy batch of indigo prussian mix,
• poured this in  –  judiciously –   in a couple of ‘key’  areas
• Then with copper paint, made a couple of  Splatters upon the paper
• paused
• stood back about  8 feet to review at a distance
• At that point,  I couldn’t  identify any critical errors
• Thus,  I Stopped.
• Put the brush down.

3  Key Points

I have   3   Major  Points  to share with the beginners.

Each is really, truly invaluable.  Over the  past 30 years of teaching and painting,      I know these 3 will help you improve and overcome those hurdles!

1.  don’t worry.

forget about the hurry up and get a product ‘Now!’

have several,   i.e.    “many”  works in progress  

2.  don’t worry.

forget about trying to make them ALL be ones you can be proud of

3.  don’t worry.

use those papers up

remember…. you can use the front side, back side, rinse it off and go again.  or with acrylics gesso and repaint – endlessly!

For the price of a cup of coffee, you can paint on the backside of a full sheet 22 x 30 inches.    wow. What Great Investment.

Cheers,  Debi

Other watercolor collages with textural effects for you to view

watercolor paper collage

serpentine bark in green collage 

An ‘Experiment.’ I love experimenting with paints!  Testing. Researching watercolor papers,  watercolor brands and colors, oils,  acrylics and mediums.

Its a surprise,  this rolling the dice.  Could it be an addiction?!

I’d prefer to say I’m on a Long, research mission.

Midnight,  Ink Stained Face of Watercolor

1000’s of color recipes, test strips and techniques litter my art studio.

I love the thrill of it.  And here is yet,  Another art technique experiment.

Testing some new color combinations and techniques. Pulling them together, for the sheer pleasure of it.

Simply, to see ‘what happens.’

Perhaps, I am  thinking about …. Midnight.

Midnight

 

ink stained sky

the face of

infinity

beyond our grasp

galaxies winking mocking

magnets all the same

 

we seek    we gaze

at the ink stained sky

with its mocking twinkling

glittering lights

 

just

beyond our grasp

 

The Inspirations

I’m definitely thinking about Midnight.

Contemplating, really.  That is what art is.  Its about 80%  thinking and about 20%  doing.   We often act as if its the other way around though.

The Muse of Inspiration 

Perhaps my 1:30am early wake up,  counts as Midnight.

The sky was beautifully inked in lovely indigo, indanthrone and lunar black.

The Muse awoke me?  Maybe.  I was not amused at that hour. Nor, could I get back to sleep at all.

I was Up. For the day. Thank you, Miss Muse.

The stars  were certainly out.

They stayed out and  very bright and shiny.  I watched them until  they vanished into the predawn sky.   Its really odd the things you notice when you’re awake at those hours.

And as they vanished, I wondered what colors might I use to create the deep, near black.

As you might remember,  I am quite partial to The Neighbor’s glorious roses.

Glancing across to the neighbor’s side, past their fence, where their gorgeous rose garden lay. Basking in the full moon of the winter solstice.

It looked so intriguing their pale pink flesh set against the depth of night.

    3 Faces of  The Day,  Watercolors    had me wondering also.

Another…. Face to Watercolor?

How about Midnight… jolly good!

By this time, it was close to 4am,  and seeing how there’s no way I could go back to sleep then, I planned.  Made notes.  Recipes.

I think its great to make such good use of time awake, don’t you?!   ok,  so I am lying through my teeth.  I would much prefer to have been sound asleep.  But whats the point of whinging?  Thats what I thought!

I could easily do a post on Midnight.  I certainly have many, early pre dawn hours put in. Easy peasy.

Materials Used 

• Daniel Smith  Indigo watercolor
• Daniel Smith Indanthrone watercolor
• Daniel Smith Lunar Black watercolor
• Winsor Newton Permanent Rose
• White gouache
• Old toothbrush for splatter
• Wooden skewer for lines
• Saunders 100% cotton,  Cold Press  watercolor paper

Process

1.   mixed the background color to the right deep dark tone
2.   tested this,  on a Saunders CP paper
3.   having mixed a plentiful surplus,
4.  painted a smooth, flat, even, solid, no lines,  wash all over
5.  let it dry,  for   3-4 hours   til    ‘scratchy dry’
6.  mix up the rose with white gouache
7.  test it on the same test sheet above, Over the previous dark wash
8.  see, there is a reason for Test Strips!
9.  adjust the color/tone as needed
10. use old toothbrush to fine splatter & large splatter
11.  use skewer to draw into if desired
12.  don’t fiddle
13.  let dry
14. start a Second image straight away, to Stop the fiddle urge

My 2nd Image,   Part II  of  Inked Stained Face of Watercolor will be upcoming later in the week… stay tuned.

Posts I Recommend as Follow ons

Midnight of Eidolon 

Indigo Blue, Prussian Blue, Gold paint using your imagination 

Indigo Blue, Indanthrone:  Blue paints   

Imagination   Filaments of Time and Space

Inspiration is Everything    

ancient Queen of Summer

robed red against the cobalt sky

July, all languid and full of summer…….

July

and as,  all her days

began to frolic

throughout the month

so lovely and softly warm –

the Queen of Summer reigns.

July,

o ancient Queen

benevolent July

Queen of Summer,

untamed tresses of gilded locks

that glitter

with the setting sun

reflecting

summer’s glory

in every strand.

her name was July

Watercolor Painting Process

This is a watercolor/mixed media piece.  The underlying foundation began as watercolor wet in wet.

And then,  the evolutionary process took over.

It, dictated to me,  what  it would be.

and….. Her name was July!

• applied molding paste texture onto watercolor Arches CP paper
• dried overnight
• applied watercolor washes of pale skin tone, pink and blue wet in wet
• let dry thoroughly
• applied light touches of acrylic paints to emphasize the design
• let dry
• applied  22k gold leaf on face,  brows, lips, etc

My Inspirations for this art piece are 3 fold:

1.     July is now,  the official World Watercolor Month

2.     I’ve always loved the month of July, growing up in the Pacific NW it was …Summer!      I lived for those lovely mild,  warm days, all 31 of them.

3.    My planned  July trip over there was cancelled, so I am ‘improvising.’   I’m envisioning myself there!

It could be scarlet fire. For those who wish it to be engulfing flames. #WorldWatercolorMonth

But really its just me, playing with cadmium red and prussian blue watercolors.

Using my preferred medium……. my  Imagination. 

Cadmium  Imagination,  Watercolor

I like this!

Why?!  I simply like the colors and the pattern, and the design shapes.

Its nothing.

I see nothing.

And,  I thought of nothing in particular.

I just…. ‘dropped the colors in’  and liked what the watercolor did.

We do not always have to play by the rules.  Nor  always have to have a plan, or a design, or a subject in front of us.

Sometimes, its a release to just play.  Then see what glorious designs might emerge.

Influences

Yesterday’s Surroundings Influence Today.

Even though, I had no visual reference, nor a subject in mind – I do realise that I’m still being influenced.

• Perhaps, yesterday’s  post   Her Name was July   with that deep blue and red.
• Or over at live and learn davidkanigan.com   red balloons rising from fog shrouded forests.
• Maybe even the 4th of July that is coming soon.
• And,  maybe comments of ‘fire’ from my lovely BC friend……

All these things get  added into the pot

and swirled around

without my being aware.

Just ‘living and learning’;

immersing and breathing wonderful things along the way.

Helped to ‘cook up’  this lovely bright abstract painting.

Cadmium Imagination,   Partner Posts:

Prussian blue pb27    (where would I be without my stunning and useful Prussian blue!)

Scarlet Crimson with a Twist

Flames of a Flower   watercolors

Using Your Imagination

Cadmium Imagination – Day 2,   July  the  official “#WorldWatercolorMonth”

Diablo Lake. Cobalt Teal Blue waters set against a backdrop of high ragged mountains of the North Cascade ranges.

July Day 4 #worldwatercolormonth

After getting ‘all inked up‘ in the forest,  I decided to ink up some mountains  as well.

And,  I can’t quite resist that Beguiling Cobalt Teal.

This,  is  definitely a very different approach for me with these mountains.

I have ‘contained’ them. Constrained them.

Boxed and labelled, defined them nice and tight.

Whereas my regular style of mountains and hills are soft and loose, blurred and more inviting.    Cerulean and Prussian 

Touch The Mountain 

But indeed,  the North Cascades Peaks rising above Diablo Lake are not soft and inviting. They are sharp.

Jagged.  Warning of the dangers of venturing up on their devilish slopes.

Yet,  in an odd way I still find these mountains appealing. Compelling.

The shapes I created with the ink, are so abstract that it loosens  up the design just that tiny bit.

And the addition of the Cobalt Teal Blue…. is just Enough,  that I can enjoy the scenery.

Watercolor Foliage Greens:  The Mary Ellen Fern I

Watercolor foliage

Simple design, simple color palette.

Its plain.  Its simple.

Mary Ellen……. my grandmother who loved the outdoors and loved ferns.  She was from a time and place of plainness. And simplicity.