Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Economy of brushstrokes...

These paintings all fall under "economy of brush strokes." I wanted to see how few strokes and how little detail was needed to capture the feel of the bird (I used no pencil marks either...just worked with the paint brush). The first in the series was the wren. By the time I got to the chickadee I found I didn't need many brush strokes at all to come up with a likeness...
(check out the date on the paintings. I wrote 1-2011...that's so me. At least I got the month right!).

Painting 212. Chickadee Light
(watercolor, cold-pressed paper)

Painting 211. Robin Redbreast
(watercolor, cold-pressed paper)

Painting 210. Northern Cardinal Aflame
(watercolor, smooth hot-pressed paper)

Painting 209. Carolina Wren
(watercolor, cold-pressed paper)

...more paintings for Laure Ferlita's 100 Paintings Challenge.
If you're an artist looking for a challenge, join up!
at

30 comments:

  1. Marco LuijkenFebruary 1, 2012 at 4:34 AM

    Hello Kelly,
    Wonderful paintings!!
    You can frame it and hang on the wall. Fantastic!!

    Greetings, Marco

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownFebruary 1, 2012 at 6:19 AM

    These are great Kelly. Love the simplicity.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wanda.....February 1, 2012 at 6:23 AM

    All your watercolors are great, Kelly. Little Wrens are a favorite of mine, but my favorite here this morning is the Robin, very special and just a few brush strokes. Love the look of it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dan HuberFebruary 1, 2012 at 6:59 AM

    These are fantastic Kelly. I often wonder when looking at a piece of art how so few lines and/or colors can give such detail and beauty. You captured the birds great. Love!!!! the chickadee

    ReplyDelete
  5. SueFebruary 1, 2012 at 8:07 AM

    You have so much talent! I have noticed that the more I "do" to a painting, the less nice it is. I guess I'm on the right track....except ALL your paintings look wonderful. Do you give lessons-LOL?!?

    ReplyDelete
  6. RoyFebruary 1, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    Wow! That Chickadee is very Japanese. Great work!

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownFebruary 1, 2012 at 8:57 AM

    Cool idea and it worked splendidly!

    ReplyDelete
  8. MontanagirlFebruary 1, 2012 at 9:51 AM

    Beautiful, each and every one! There's no end to your talents!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. TexWisGirlFebruary 1, 2012 at 10:03 AM

    fabulous! just stinkin' fabulous you are!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. grammie gFebruary 1, 2012 at 10:14 AM

    Hi Kelly ...Clever of you to come up with this concept ; }
    I really like the chickadee and the robin, but they are all great!
    I very interesting post !!

    Grace

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tammy@Simple Southern HappinessFebruary 1, 2012 at 10:57 AM

    Outstanding! You need to do a gallery showing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. MaryFebruary 1, 2012 at 3:05 PM

    Interesting technique....turned out great! I particularly like the chickadee.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Kathy A. JohnsonFebruary 1, 2012 at 3:43 PM

    I really like the simple style of these, and they most definitely look like birds! Nice job.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Betsy Banks AdamsFebruary 1, 2012 at 5:00 PM

    Hi, Sorry I haven't been around this week. We have bee traveling and taking more photos... Hope you are having a great week.

    Great paintings... Love all of them --but the Cardinal caught my attention...

    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  15. Gillian OlsonFebruary 1, 2012 at 7:51 PM

    These are beautiful. It is impressive how few strokes you have used and not only recognizable but drop dead gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  16. ElaineFebruary 2, 2012 at 1:13 AM

    You captured all the birds wonderfully with a few strokes. I love the Chickadee but most especially the Robin. Good work!

    ReplyDelete
  17. RoyFebruary 2, 2012 at 8:01 AM

    These are great Kelly. Just enough detail to provide an image that is quite an individual style.

    ReplyDelete
  18. benFebruary 2, 2012 at 8:29 AM

    The chickadee is great.

    ReplyDelete
  19. VickieFebruary 2, 2012 at 8:42 AM

    Love these, Kelly! Fresh and inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
  20. UnknownFebruary 2, 2012 at 12:41 PM

    lovely !
    -KAT-

    ReplyDelete
  21. Log Cabin StudioFebruary 2, 2012 at 5:46 PM

    Love the paintings Kelly,I love them all.I used one of your eagle photos for a painting and linked it back to you...thanks for allowing artists to use some of your amazing photos.
    Caroline

    ReplyDelete
  22. CarolineFebruary 2, 2012 at 11:21 PM

    Love the top one!

    ReplyDelete
  23. KellyFebruary 2, 2012 at 11:50 PM

    ...thanks, everyone for the wonderfully kind comments. These paintings were really fun. They took only minutes and helped me see things differently. I'd like to keep working with this style...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Mary Howell CromerFebruary 4, 2012 at 7:08 AM

    I love the top one, but also really like your technique, very nicely done!

    ReplyDelete
  25. MarieFebruary 4, 2012 at 10:12 PM

    Love love love them! Especially the chickadee! I could use a course in minimalism. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Cyber ProfeFebruary 6, 2012 at 9:23 PM

    Beautiful as always!

    ReplyDelete
  27. MarthaFebruary 8, 2012 at 3:33 PM

    The chickadee is beautiful...and you're so right, the fewer strokes are amazing...you really captured the birds!

    I met your mom last month at the library book club and saw her this morning, she is so sweet. I hope to read the book "Ten Tea Parties", too. She told me about your blog and I'm happy that I found it!

    Have you been to French Park? We went there this morning to enjoy the snow and I posted some pictures on my blog. Please come by: www.thescrumptiouslife.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hilke BrederMarch 13, 2012 at 10:41 AM

    Masterly! Probably one of the hardest challenges for a painter.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Transformational TimesNovember 23, 2013 at 3:30 PM

    Economy of brush strokes takes true mastery. Love the first one. Thanks for teaching. :)
    https://www.facebook.com/ehyodo

    ReplyDelete
  30. Transformational TimesNovember 23, 2013 at 3:31 PM

    Economy of brush strokes takes true mastery. Love the first one. Thanks for teaching. :)
    https://www.facebook.com/ehyodo

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting! I love meeting other bird and nature lovers, so drop me a line!