Watercolor Pinecone Impressions

 

Creating from nature with watercolors

There are times when I take long breaks from watercolors and other times when I am painting every day of the week.  It is best when I avoid long breaks because the flow of creating is less distracted.

If you are a creator, I am positive you can relate to what I am saying.  

So recently my mind has been blank; this led to a month of me not doing much of anything.

This might have been good because I completed my garden book and have also been busy working in the garden.  But in the mix of all that activity I have been smelling pine in the air. 

The fresh pine scent travels with cooler temperatures, especially when the wind present; I love it.

Last week, I decided to embrace the pines.  I hit several roadblocks due to being distracted but I did not stop because I needed to let these impressions surface. 



The Pallet

Beginning with the right color pallet was required and honestly sometimes mixing your own shades of green is the best way to replicate nature.  My pallet was simple and consisted of four main colors.
    • Green – Cadmium Yellow, Cobalt Blue and a tad of Paynes Gray
    • Brown – Burnt Umber and Paynes Gray
At times I let these colors blend and then I did a little splatter with Alizarin Crimson.  I was beginning to get my flow back and then the weekend came. 


Creating to find the flow of impression that represents my heart.


I spent another afternoon painting feeling less than thrilled with my results.  I could sense that something was holding me back and I was unable to figure out what.  

So, I took a step back and looked at what I had painted.  I could see the struggles an knew that painting through December would be a continuation of pinecone impressions.

This theme and color pallet captivated my desire to keep blending.  I see additional walks in nature are needed and before long I have no doubt that what I am after will reveal itself.


Be the good,
Carole West