It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived. Helen Walton

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Loosen up!

Memories of Zoagli

Waiting for Hurricane Beryl
I see the wonderful loose watercolors all over the internet and wonder...how do they get so loose???
My Zoagli photos continue to make me wish I could recreate the beauty and wonder of the dear little fishing village on the Italian coast but they continue to come out strained and flat.  I got a little looser in anticipation of Hurricane Beryl.  Maybe if I painted with wind (lots of it) in mind, it would help.  Any suggestions out there?

17 comments:

Å olanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Gorgeous! Love those palm trees. :)

kat said...

Hello Susan, your pieces are very lovely, just continue having fun and playing, that's what I say, you're doing great!

carol l mckenna said...

Both artworks are wonderful ~ the first one is closer to what you seem to want to do ~ yet, I would suggest you trust yourself and go with what you inner spirit is telling you ~ play, play, play and remembers it is 'only paper' ~~ thanks, namaste, ^_^

Netty said...

Both your artworks are great. Happy PPF, Annette x

Carolyn Dube said...

I too love those loose watercolors and since I am not a watercolorist- I have no useful advice to give. However, I do love these. The palms in Waiting for Hurricane Beryl remind me of Hawaii- love how you have the fronds shaped! Memories of Zoagli remind me of St. Martin- it was such a colorful island. Happy PPF!

Unknown said...

The two artworks are gorgeous! Colors, detail, everything is working perfect together. Have an amazing day!

Kokopelli said...

No watercolor master over here! Colorful paintings and I love the one of Zoagli, flat or not. Happy PPF!

Unknown said...

Well, you know, I like the Zoagli one best. Love the colors.

Mary C. Nasser said...

These are both so lovely...perfect for summer-time and vacations!
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art

Carol said...

I love them both!11 I think we are often our own worst critics :0)

minnemie said...

I have the same desire - to loosen up! I love how you did the water.

Jen @Sadie Inspired said...

I think they look wonderful and I wish I was sitting in a beach chair in your first one. Such a relaxing painting. :)

Marji said...

Beautiful works. As long as you are thinking about loosening up - it will happen. Let it take shape as it will. Happy PPF

Lynn Cohen said...

These do look loose and carefree, calling for me to go on vacation holiday!
Continue to think wind...just let yourself relax into any subject matter and while in the zone the pen will do the rest. HPPF!

VonnyK said...

I love these paintings, to me they are very loose and fun. I can't seem to loosen up, everything is hard and fast. Yours makes me want to realx under the palms. Love the colours.
Von (PPF)

Nancy McCarroll said...

Funny, I am not a loose painter, either. I think it is just personality type, and that we don't appreciate our own style. AND yours are GOOD!
Nancy (ppf)

wednesday said...

I really like both of these, but I know what you mean about wanting to paint more freely. It's probably the hardest thing to learn.
Have you ever watched a demonstration of Chinese brush painting? They hold the brush really far back on the handle. Try it, it's a great exercise and impossible to be rigid when you are painting that way.