I do. I even cringe over some of my recent cards - especially those which are watercolored.
Since I spent two days talking about some really important and easy things you can do to make your watercolor pop this past weekend, I am criticizing today's card because I really should have done more.
I'm a chronic over-worker in watercolor. At some point, I make myself stop, but it's a struggle. I love to doodle around adding things forever. If my goal is not a finished card I could seriously spend a year on one leaf. It's a disease.
So I'm trying to catch up on blogging the cards I made for Creativation, and I still have a few to show you. This one was a no-line watercolor. I made two samples - one for Germany, and I tried hard to make them as identical as is possible with watercolor.
But now that it's been a month or two, I look at this, and I see a lot of missed opportunities.
The size of the image is perfect for no-line watercolor, because it's not one of those images that will take you ten hours to paint, and the shapes are fairly simple and repeatable.
Looking at it now, though - I should have put much darker darks in it. It looks flat to me. My favorite part of it is the touch of that rusty color on the shingles. It's such a peaceful image though - it almost looks like a children's book illustration.
|
But anyway - I thought it was important to show something I think could have been better, and how I think it could have been better, because one of the MOST important things I try to teach in my classes is to walk away from your project. We spend so much time coloring, that just like when you're reading something you've written - you know what you wanted to say, so you don't notice your mistakes. It's the same with watercolor. First - walk away and take a break, even if it's for a week. Then when you look at it - hold it at arm's length - changing the distance between your eye and your work can often help you spot things that can be better - like not enough darkness on the stones on the well here.
Guess what? My Sweet Petunia is having a flash sale on the Studio Bag in honor of her wedding anniversary, which is today! So for 24 hours on the 24th, the bag is $24! I take this with me everywhere - it holds so much. At my retreat, I fit all of the supplies for two days worth of classes into one bag! So grab one while it's at such a discount. It comes in three trim colors: turquoise, pink and grey.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Loveyameanitbye.
I think you did a great job! I enjoy your watercoloring!
ReplyDeleteI sometimes cringe at my work too Lydia. I think it's what anyone with creativity does with their work. I love your beautiful watercolored card and thanks for the tip on the ink!
ReplyDeleteI just lost track of time as I stared into my screen to watch your video. Nothing else was happening in my house, city or world. Amazing! You astound me, Lydia!
ReplyDeleteYou and Kathy ARE from the same tribe! I'm not very good at water color so I try not to be too critical or I will stop trying. I think your card is great, it was a sunny day!
ReplyDelete