Painting 117, Hooded Warbler After the Storm
Watercolor, 12x16 Arches Cold Pressed 140 lb Paper
Painting 117, Hooded Warbler After the Storm, grew out of Painting 116 (below) and Painting 115 (the previous post). In 116 I was trying to figure out the bird's posture. Since I didn't have a reference photo I knew I had to create another practice piece to test out what was in my head. After I finished the practice oil pastel and went back to study it, I could see I needed to make a few changes before I started the watercolor. I changed the position of the bill and the wing, enlarged his eye (Hooded Warblers have the largest eyes of all the Wood Warblers), flattened out his head a bit, tightened up the angle down his back a little...then changed the position of his bib and filled out his chest too, but I liked the rest of the pose so I stuck pretty closely with the position of the tail and legs. I'm glad I did the oil pastel as a practice because it was fun and let me see what worked and what didn't. I used the same watercolor techniques in painting 117 as I did in painting 115 (the 7x10 practice watercolor of the Hooded Warbler). I'm glad I did that practice painting too because I learned so much from it. I used a lot more wet on wet with the leaves in this painting, and I like these leaves better than those in 115. Painting the Hooded Warblers of Shawnee State Park has been a huge learning process!
Painting 116, Hooded Warblers...Thank Goodness They Sing Loudly
Watercolor, 12x16 Arches Cold Pressed 140 lb Paper
Before I started painting 117, I played around with this one. I chose oil pastels because you can scribble, scribble, and scribble some more. They are freeing and fun...and super messy, which can also be fun. I wanted some green energy floating around in my head before I started the more complicated watercolor, and this painting did the trick. All of the practice paintings and pencil sketches really help...
...does this guy look familiar to you? I did a similar painting for the challenge last year (Painting 84, Hooded Warbler in the Deep Woods, Come Out and Sing so I can Find You!). Painting 116 will work as a companion piece to that painting. When I looked at that painting, I could see I gave him a bill that was too long, so that helped me draw these birds with shorter bills...everything is an evolution...
Hi Kelly, Your paintings are always GREAT... I cannot believe how good they are... You just get better and better... I love that first one. Not only the bird but the leaves are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
Love the colors in your painting--unusually pretty shades of green. You are so talented. Mickie
ReplyDeleteNo. 117 is definitely the best. I like it a lot. It's a lot brighter and crisper than #115. Even going from memory I think you improved your painting from last year in #116. It is really fun to watch you experimenting with new things and learning by experience. You've got a good pace going for your 100 paintings for this year too. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteYour paintings are always so lovely. What talent!
ReplyDeleteGreat art work. It is a beautiful painting and it looks fantastic. I also love the first one.
ReplyDeleteYour paintings never cease to amaze me. It's great fun to see how you experiment and what you experiment with! Great work, Kelly.
ReplyDeleteLovely done, Kelly! And you're right it's evolution....slow and steady improvement.
ReplyDeleteLove your paintings. I am your new follower. I just started my blog, stop by and watch as the season progresses and I add more photos.
ReplyDeleteGoldenray Yorkies
I didn't know that about the eye of the Hooded Warbler! Such a wonderful portrait of a great bird!
ReplyDeleteHaving tried water colours myself, I must say, I DO like how those leaves came out. Very nice ... the whole picture!!!
ReplyDeleteI really like that top picture!! Don't they remind you of a little yellow bird wearing a ski mask?
ReplyDeleteThese little birds are so odd looking. I've never seen these before but they definitely have character. Carol
ReplyDeleteNice work Kelly. :)
ReplyDeleteBetsy...danke!!
ReplyDeleteMickie...gotta go for the green to counteract all the gray around here! thanks! :-)
elaine...thank you! I think so too... It's amazing how painting 100 paintings (quality over quantity) really helps. I'm so glad I'm doing the challenge again...
Lois...thank you so much!
bill...thank you!! Being able to paint the summer scenes is really helping make these gray days go buy quicker. Art therapy! :-)
Mona...thank you. The 100 painting challenge is great for experimenting, and I've learned so much that way.
Thanks, Laure!! I've learned so much from your online classes too...
sunray...thank you! I love your little Yorkies. Sooo cute!
Anne...I remember reading that last year, and when you really study the bird you see the eye really is big!! Thanks...
Cicero...thank you. I'm definitely having fun experimenting with watercolor. You have to be willing to be patient with all the drying time! :-)
Janice...haha! Yes, you're right!! :-)
Carol...they definitely go through your area on migration, but they are hard to find if you're not listening for them!!
Nature...thank you!! :-)