Friday, January 31, 2014

Muti and Ma – Marvelous!

Yo Yo Ma

Bob and I braved the cold and walked to the Symphony Center yesterday morning to attend an open rehearsal of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  How could we resist, two Shubert pieces and a contemporary concerto for cellos and orchestra by Sollima? Sollima played the other cello along with Yo Yo Ma. Riccardo Muti was the conductor. What a way to spend a morning! I think I smiled all day!

I wasn't familiar with Sollima but I intend to remedy that starting today. Later I'll listen to his Carravagio. It seems like a good place to start.

This sketch was done on the back of my program. I added the splash of color when I got home.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

What a Difference a Day Makes in Watercolor

Just a quick catch up on my One Watercolor a Day exercises-
This part one of the "Day"2 – wet into wet. It was great fun watching the colors ebb, flow and react to the paper.

Here's the second part – dry paper and wet color.  Far more controlled but still has a loose quality that I like.

The "Day 3" exercise involved painting a dream like vision with red using other colors to change the tone of the red. I was playing with the red, trying to make it a cold vision of these last few weeks in Chicago.

I'm really enjoying this. Seeing other people's work in the FaceBook group is a fun added dimension to the learning experience!


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

One Watercolor a Day…But Not Quite

Exercise 1

 When I read, way back in the summer, that Veronica Lawlor had a new book coming out I was so excited I immediately preordered it,  One Watercolor a Day. These thumbnails are the first exercise. The exercise is an invitation to play with the paint, to get involved with the medium. The book is an invitation to play with your creativity and develop your style and skill. I've been an admirer of Veronica's work for a long time and look forward to working/playing my way through the book. There's a group, One Watercolor a Day, on FaceBook to give support and encouragement. The FB group is moving at a weekly rate rather than daily. That's more doable for me! I'll keep you posted. Better yet join in!