Decorative Nest
15x11" gouache on paper
NFS
Day 2
Susan Hanssen
Workshop.
Goal
Paint something in a way we would
never paint it. Reach outside our
comfort zone.
Susan's example was an abstracted chicken
with a blue top-not instead of red!
If you think of the very organic way I
painted the nest and feather just a
couple of days ago then you know
how much I pushed myself out
of my comfort zone with this one.
Polka dotted eggs and bright colored
branches/twigs - plus a border!!!
Step one was to mark up the paper
in a random way with dark watercolor.
Those marks can be clearly seen behind the nest.
2. Draw the subject with watercolor crayon..
3. use transparent washes.
4. Finish with gouache.
5.Touch up with watercolor crayons.
The border happened quite naturally
to stop the very bright nest from
appearing to float.
Decorative art can be fun and relaxing
and I quite enjoyed painting this.
Here is a wonderful sheep Susan did.
The patterns are painted the same
as from the collage study..
See more listed under sheep on her website
I was asked why I was taking a watercolor
workshop from two artists who work
so differently to me.
Simply this... when the opportunity comes
along to have the opportunity to learn from two
artists of Nancy Frost Began
and Susan Hanssen's
incredible talent and teaching skills...
any artist should jump at the chance.
17 of us are very glad we did!
It was AMAZING! It was BRILLIANT!
I am exhausted.
