Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Avian Architecture - watercolor
















Nest

6x8in  watercolor on moleskin book paper SOLD

Whenever I do a series I venture into various media to explore
different effects.  Here are a few of the watercolors I did.

Artist Note


The one above was the first of the watercolor sketches I did of the nests
I was experimenting with the fracturing technique using

the basic warm and cool colors. Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna.
Next came the one below - this time with less blue.
I dry brushed the really dark areas.















Nest in Tree  7 x 9   moleskin book paper  SOLD

The one below is a watercolor of a cactus wren's nest
on YES multi media canvas. I added some ochre and pale yellow
 to the palette and was careful not to use a staining color.
I found it easier to fracture in watercolor on the canvas than the paper.
I painted a dark shape for the nest and lifted out the shapes for
light nest material. I actually placed the wren in this one.
 My computer is acting weird and I keep
trying to download some of the others, but it is not working
going to have to let this be the last one.
Tomorrow I will show some of the others from the show.

Cactus Wren Nest   8x8  Yes canvas SOLD                                                                                                          

46 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful series..I love them all and understand why they were sold. I didn't realize you can use the fracturing technique with watercolor..Wonderful work, Julie!!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Hilda - nice you like them - thanks. I am still experimenting with the fracturing in watercolor but I do like the effects I can get.
      Your pastel work is AMAZING!

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  2. The first one is a stunner, your watercolors are beautiful!

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  3. Thank you, Gloria. I visited your blog and found so much to keep me interested. Your work is really great and I loved the modern ancient glass post.

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  4. These are all so lovely Julie. And mixed media to booT! You know how I love mixed media. I am especially happy to see SOLD on these. How totally wonderful! About wrens...we bought this wonderful hand-made wren bird house from a pleasant retired fellow a few years back. He told us to hang the house with the opening facing to the North and we did. He also said that the male wrens will go from place to place and actually PICK the home he and his sweetie wren will nest in. And they did! Did you know that? I was overjoyed when they picked out little wren house and I could hear there chatter-chirping all the day long.

    Thank you for watching my sweet Aunt Jean's video today. She had a birthday today and is now 87! Oh to be so lucky.

    xo

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  5. I really enjoyed reading your wren story. I have learned so much about the nesting habits of birds since I started painting them three years ago. They are like us - tidy ones and messy ones...master builders and renters.

    I cannot believe that your Aunt Jean is 87. Tell her she looks fabulous!
    I feel like I know her after watching the video.

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  6. bird's nests! bird's nests?? wow---no wonder it took you awhile to put together that show! Bird's nests are complicated (and you did such a good job of them!) Seriously, they look so time-intensive! I am sure that is a show that people will long remember. Just gorgeous!

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    Replies
    1. You are so sweet Celeste. I had a lot of them done already because I have been painting nests for my own enjoyment. It was when I had to have enough for a show that things got tough. I am going to do a post on my failures.

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  7. Thank you for showing these water color paintings from your show. I have no idea how you use fracturing in watercolor, but I love them. Looking forward to see more. =)

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    Replies
    1. There are more coming - thanks, Roger. I am using the posting time with things from the show as a mental readjustment. I was pretty wiped out by the time it all came together as I had the Artists Guild show to organize at the same time. Are you thinking nests?

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    2. What can I say, you are an inspiration and since you suggested it, I thought it could be a fun challenge.

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    3. OH BOY! I encourage everyone to go and see the nest Roger did. It is fabulous - done in his unique and wonderful style.

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    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the visit. My new website is still in progress so will get back to you but you can subscribe to this - my blog and that is where all my activity is anyway. Up on the right bar. Cannot get it on your phone.

      Delete
  9. All are so beautiful, Julie. Are you doing some fracturing in the watercolors too? Or are the interesting patterns all brushed in?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sherry - yes, I was fracturing with my handy tool. Neat effects in watercolor.

      Delete
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    ReplyDelete
  11. These are truly exquisite! Thanks for sharing:)))

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  12. They all look very ghost-like-very nice effects for such a good subject:)

    Don't even mention technical difficulties-I had them all weekend long!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My difficulties were just with blogger - were yours?
      I adore the photos you took on your trip and am looking forward to seeing if you use any for inspiration.

      Delete
  13. Hi Julie,
    These are absolutely lovely!! I love the combinations of the loose textural, fracturing technique for the backgrounds to the exquisitely painted nests. Beautiful!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Kim. I went to your site and can see you are a very experienced artist. The bananas you did were a favorite. Looking forward to seeing more.

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  14. Love the fracturing with watercolors. What a stunning effect. There is so much out there for artists to explore. Another door opened. And what you can do with just two colors.....yes!

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    Replies
    1. Helen I just saw your new painting and really, really like it.
      Glad you like the watercolors with the fracturing. Me too!

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  15. Ahhh- these are wonderful! I love seeing how you handle the various media- AND the fact that you used the 'fracturing' technique in there, too! As always- you are insightful & inspiring!

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  16. I saw your landscape and daffodil The landscape has such wonderful atmospheric perspective and the daff is clean and bright - just like spring.
    Thanks for the lovely comment.

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  17. Beautiful watercolors Julie! Glad to see your posts again!

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    Replies
    1. Nice of you Sherry - thanks. Nice to be back with such great folk.
      Loved your fresh and lovely watercolors of the vineyards.

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  18. Julie, lovely pieces! If I had been together I would have loved to see your show. Is there a good gallery to go to and see your work?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Lavon. there is.
      I was in a gallery in Santa Fe, but they gave big discounts which I had to absorb and would not let me see the tickets to make sure they really did give that much off. It is an old trick I had been warned about. I did not even consider staying with them after that. I like the local gallery because I have a great relationship with them and trust them. If you ever come to las Cruces we will do lunch and go there.

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  19. Julie, These are fabulous! Your paintings are magnificent in every medium.

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    1. Hi Marie - nice to hear from you. Love what you learned in Stapleton's workshop about porn star pink. It certainly worked on your trees.

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  20. Interesting to see that fracturing can suit watercolor. I really love your nests, they remind me my attempt to the same subjetc (blackbird nest) in acrylic.

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    1. The watercolors I saw on your blog have a lovely sensitive feel to them. Tried to find your acrylic blackbird nest. Am sure I would love it.

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  21. So nice to see that you're back, Julie! You were missed.
    The nest series is terrific. It's great to see where you were searching out the fracturing technique.
    There's a bit of spotlight effect on the nest brim in the first two....Adds to the dramatic look!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Dean. Glad you liked them
      Your bulldog painting is very special. What a great eye! I loved the colors you used too.

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  22. OUTSTANDING WORK!!!! i'm in love with them all but the first one is just incredible!! Wow!

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    1. Coming from you it means double. Thanks Suzanne. Your portrait is awesome.

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  23. Your watercolors are just as fabulous as your oils , love this subject , so unusual and masterfully done. xx

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    1. Hi Jane - what great colors you have in your still life.

      Want to let you know I do struggle. I am going to show some of the rejects in a couple of days.

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  24. Good to see you back, Julie! What an original subject for a show, I just love the idea ... and the paintings are too die for!

    Nice to see the scope of media - a clever touch.

    This painting Malarkey is quite good fun isn't it? I am so used to taking weeks on a drawing, that turning out a painting in a couple of sessions is quite a change!

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    Replies
    1. Love Malarkey - not heard that for a while. Glad you like my avian theme. Thank you.
      My egg temperas take weeks like your drawing but I do love the process. With acrylics, broader bushes make for fast progress. You are doing gangbusters with them

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  25. I love the way the nests all emerge from the mass of shadow color-lovely!

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    1. They do seem to do that. Glad you noticed. Thanks Mary.
      The floral paintings you are doing are beautiful.

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie