Personal Art Blog

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

Monday, November 24, 2014

Watercolor - Pansy Study


Pansy Study
8x7in watercolor on Yupo paper NFS

Artist Note
I have been trying to figure out how to do '
the pansies on this slick Yupo paper. 
For those of you who do not know what it is like,  
visualize a thin sheet of smooth,
white, flexible plastic. 
The stuff is great for abstract and 
non-representational art because 
the paint floats on the surface. 
The mingling of colors happens beautifully.
Flat areas are quite doable and 
 neat edges are formed where a puddle ends, 
but try to do a more impressionistic style 
of layering and it looks pretty messy 
right off the bat because
the darn paint lifts off when you don't want it to.
BUT 
that is also exactly the beauty of using it
...to be able to lift the paint cleanly off 
to get back to the white.

Here I slightly stained everywhere but 
the main white pansy first and lifted off 
smaller white areas - trying make sure 
that nothing 
competed with the focal pansy.

Anyone with any hints out there?




33 comments:

  1. wow! what color! what beauty! sorry - I don't know anything about the paper! still thinking of you - and thanking you every day for the paint little sweet pea!!!!!!!

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    1. Little sweet pea eh? - rather like the "little" in that. Thanks for the visit, Myra.
      is the runway being good to you?

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  2. Very beautiful flower painting with so lovely colours !!!
    Have a nice and creative day Julie !!!

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    1. I appreciate that and thank you. Your new painting is pretty awesome. Your knowledge of perspective is amazing!

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  3. I think it is gorgeous, Julie. You've achieved the same effects I've seen other artists get with Yupo and I hate that I can't manage this.

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    1. Thanks Sherry. The effects may look the same but thats the paper. I have been looking for some impressionistic Yupo work, but they are mostly more abstract in style. Wish I had the time to really go searching. Thats why I asked for help.

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  4. Unfortunately I have no experience with this type of surface, let alone with watercolours in general. I'm more into oil painting and photography. But on the Daily Painting home page your work immediately struck me as beautiful and that's all I can say. Keep up the good work, you're an inspiration to me.

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    1. A lovely comment and I appreciate it very much. I tried to find your blog but
      need help! happy painting

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  5. Hi Julie,
    I dont think you need any hints...you are finding your beautifully. The unpredictable qualities are what is making this painting beautiful. colours are luscious, and transitions are mysterious...all wonderful qualities. It's a delight!

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    1. Thanks Sally. I was just hoping someone would pass on a magic hint.
      I really was impressed with your tulip painting.

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  6. Not much personal experience with Yupo (other than fun with alcohol inks), but artist George James is a well known Yupo artist who offers instructional DVDs. YouTube has some previews of his work as well as limited instruction by other artists. My favorite artist who has been doing landscapes on Yupo is https://www.flickr.com/photos/randalldavidtipton/sets/72157628922272595/. That said, you work on Yupo is just lovely, Julie! I don't think you need instruction.

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    1. Thanks Chris - I agree with your admiration for Tipton's landscapes. He abstracts beautifully. So does George James... a genius at what he does.
      I didn't realize he works on Yupo so I enjoyed looking. Thanks for the help. I feel I do need it.
      Your painting - The dancer, is gorgeous!

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  7. Dear Julie - I think you are doing a wonderful job on Yupo paper. I use it from time to time but it is so tricky if you want something realistic (at least for me) but I do love the fact that you can start all over again. Thank you for sharing this beautiful study. As always I come away from your blog inspired to keep painting! Hugs

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    1. I would love to see what you did on the Yupo, Debbie. We both like realistic imagery...mine a bit more impressionistic than yours, but still we like to paint natural beauty.
      I agree the top reason for using it is the ability to lift off cleanly. But layering the way I do makes it difficult.
      Thinking of you cooking up a storm for Thanksgiving and having fun in that kitchen of yours

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  8. Julie, I personally love what you've created here. The focal pansy is certainly identifiable as is the blue one above and to the right. The others support and fill out the composition beautifully. What strikes me is the foliage with its color variety and layered, textured appearance. It's enchanting!

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    1. Pleased you like the foliage. it was the hardest part.
      Green is a color you manage brilliantly, Carol. Your latest one of the green glass bowl is totally awesome. Truthfully!

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  9. This painting looks like Julie being Julie! Beautiful.

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  10. This painting is so unique! Fabulous effects!

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    1. Thank you Sue. I value you see that. Wish I did. I never see my work clearly until a week later.
      Your bog post with the cross you made is perfect.

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  11. You are nailing it all by yourself. That main pansy rocks. The overall effect is just lovely.

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    1. Hi Helen. Glad you think so.
      Your series using Red is eye catching work. It is the season for it too.

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  12. Beautiful Julie, you've made the Yupo work for you. I have a tablet of it I've yet to try...

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    1. Hi Sherry, thanks for visiting. You should really try it because you and I both layer and that is where the problem starts.
      Your steps shown on your post is fascinating and I loved seeing the painting emerge from such pale colors to the final painting.

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  13. Talk about challenging!!! lol.....this is SO beautiful, Julie! This yupo technique is so loose and love the colors... Outstanding work!!!!

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  14. Hi Hilda, thanks for the encouraging words. It looks loose ,but brother, was it hard to get that. We are talking major control! Are you cooking for Thanksgiving?

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  15. I love the energy and colors, sounds like a challenge to work with this paper but you pulled it off masterfully!

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    1. I appreciate that, Celia. Thanks.
      Your new watercolor is lovely and I enjoyed seeing how it started with that beautiful pink wash.
      Good luck with your Etsy Store. I will be sure to visit.

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  16. I wondered what Yupo paper was! It looks to me like you don't need any hints. The pansies are delightful and you handled the plastic paper like you have been using it your whole life.

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    1. Its the struggle which obviously, I am beginning to realize, does not show.
      Maybe I should go with that. I was hoping for some hints to get it to go more easily but looking at other work on Yupo I have realized that to keep my own look means doing it my way...duh! I have to explore, keep what I like and try not to repeat what I don't.
      I enjoyed your new post on drawing.
      Next will be watercolors from the tropical paradise you are going to. FUN!

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  17. My experience with Yupo is very small, three works very spontaneous where I did not feel special difference between a work on paper hot pressed very smooth and Yupo in laying the color. Yupo changes for the possibility of rethinking, regaining totally white paper, such as paper will never ...... Superposition of colors, it becomes difficult on Yupo, without disturbing the color which is below, exactly as in the watercolor on papers very smooth ... the only option is to put the color less and less watery as it increases the stratification ... until detail with dry-brush.
    A brush made of natural hair, settles better color.
    Many synthetic brushes carry away the color instead of settle it, effect also nice, but only if it wanted to!
    Your pansies are really wonderful but I know you are searching something your own balance
    between Julie ,watercolor and Yupo for.... perfecting perfection .
    Have nice Thanksgiving day ,sending hugs
    Rita

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    1. I really appreciate your thoughtful and insightful guidance, dear Rita.
      I have been using all my brushes to see what they could... and couldn't do.
      My sables are good, yes. Dry brush I have not tried so will certainly do that.
      Maybe gouache would work. When you compared it to hot press I used to do a certain illustration type of look on hot press using the opaque colors. Forgot about that. Most likely because I do not want to get too photo realistic.
      You are correct about wanting a balance between my oils and watercolor. The goal is for me to be able to look at either, and say it is a Julie painting.
      Valentina will be having her first Thanksgiving. I hope she will not be horrified like I was when I first came to this country, by sweetened vegetable dishes. Marshmallows on top of... I had never even had a marshmallow before! Quite a surprise. I did love the gathering of families to give blessings for all they had in their lives. It is truly a lovely and special day.

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  18. Julie, again you have created perfect pansies and channelled their essence with clever colour shapes. I was thinking of what you said about that when I was considering painting my hydrangea. I did something different in the end but I hope to revisit your wonderful insight soon.

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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