Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Painting #71, Snowy Egret with Plumes Flying

Painting 71, Snowy Egret with Plumes Flying
(Quick watercolor sketch, 9x12, Arches Rough 100% Cotton 140 lb paper)

This is one of those milestone paintings because I sketched it and painted it in public--with a lot of people around. Normally I paint by myself, but I knew I was going to have an hour's wait while my son was at a tennis clinic, so after reading Laure Ferlita's post today on all of her travel watercolor palettes, I decided it was time to haul my paints and paper with me and paint. I am a sloppy sketcher, and when I prepare for a watercolor, I normally tone down my heavy-handed sketching, but I didn't have time for that, so I just let my heavy hand go free. The pencil marks show through the paint, but that's okay. It was dark there, and I couldn't see up close very well because I didn't have my little magnifying glasses (uugh...getting older is murder on the eyes. I can't see anything up close anymore). As a result, this little egret's eyes suffered a bit and look outlined. I was going to fix it when I got home but decided to leave it because each painting in the challenge is a learning experience. I'm going to take my paints with me now when I know I'm going to have a long wait so I'll be able to keep practicing painting on the fly...in front of people!

When I paint with acrylics I don't lay a sketch down at all. I just grab the paintbrush and start painting, but watercolors aren't that forgiving so a sketch is necessary! I might try painting this guy in acrylic and see what happens. I took the photo I used as a reference for this painting when I was in Florida this spring (it's posted here). The Snowy Egret was in his breeding plumage and the wind had whipped those beautiful plumes on his head in the air. He had just caught the little silvery fish, and I was lucky enough to snap the photo just in time.

19 comments:

Dawn Fine said...

Its Lovely!!

Laure Ferlita said...

BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You make me proud!! :•)

Laure Ferlita said...

ENCORE! ENCORE!!!

Kelly said...

...and I didn't even want to post this because it has major problems, but...all for the challenge!! :-)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

You are much too hard on yourself, Kelly... The Snowy Egret is GREAT---and I love the little silver fish in his beak... Cute!!

Hugs,
Betsy

Dawn said...

Oh Kelly, I love it!
And what a catch he made:)
(I cannot believe you do this with people watching you. I would want them all to just go away until I completed it! Very amazing!!)

Dan Huber said...

wonderful painting (and I know what you mean on the glasses thing - hate that i need them now too)

Jayne said...

Oh, I don't know.. I sort of LIKE seeing the pencil lines in there with him Kelly! Just beautiful!! I can't believe you did this with people watching.

Hilke Breder said...

I love the free style of water color. You have such a sure hand, Kelly!

Carol Mattingly said...

Well done Kelly. I like this one a lot. Carol

Montanagirl said...

Lovely! It looks just like the photo you took. Nice work, girl.

Out on the prairie said...

Really beautiful, I love your watercolors.

Gaina said...

It's wonderful! Really energetic :).

Anonymous said...

Definitely another masterpiece Kelly.

Kelly said...

...thank you, everyone! I was worried you might be getting tired of all of these paintings! Not too many more to go. Hopefully I'll be able to paint one at all of Matty's tennis clinics. Those will all be watercolors.

Elaine said...

Definitely a learning experience for you to paint in public like that! It turned out great.

Sarah Knight said...

Fabulous work - magnificent!

LĂșcia said...

You're so talented Kelly!!!
Beautiful...

Anonymous said...

A beautifully executed sketch.