Toys - SF Sketch Group Meetup

The subject of the SF Sketch group zoom meeting was "toys". We sketched each other one at a time as we shared about our favorite childhood toy.

During the second half of the meeting we sketched, then shared a toy we have in our house. I used pencil and watercolor for my people and rapido sketch pen and watercolor for my slinky toys.

Portrait Party Watercolor Sketches

These are watercolor sketches done while attending a Zoom Portrait Party.

3 and 6 minute poses.

10 minute poses.

Fruit Tree Signs

I have been working on these for a while. I didn't like the idea of painted rocks by the fruit trees so I made signs of the name of the fruit and also the harvest times for them. When the trees are bare I forget what type of fruit it bears and the harvest dates. I used small pieces of wood and acrylic paint. I  painted gesso on the wood first and after I painted the fruit I varnished the whole thing. I used framing wire as it was easy to twist the ends and it bends easily.

We got our first Anna Apple, a HUGE apple.

Direct Watercolor 20 - 29

Apricots from our tree.

Sunflower

These direct watercolor sketches were done during the SFSketchers Meetup on Zoom. Liz asked us to share about our favorite summer. We sketched the speaker as they talked to us. These were  not timed and some artists spoke longer than others.

30x30 Direct Watercolor - #18 and 19 - Lake Wohlford

 My second gathering with Inland Painters took place at Lake Wohlford, Escondido, California. We arrived at 9:30 a.m. when it was windy and cold. At noon the sun came out and warmed us up but most of us were packing it up at that time. I am glad the painters choose locations with limited amounts of people. The only people there were us painters and a few families fishing by the shore.

Direct Watercolor #17 - Artists on a Zoom Meeting

I joined the SFSketchers during their meeting this morning. The theme was Father's Day and we were asked to share what our dad taught us while we showed a photo of him or something he gave us. We drew the person speaking while they shared their experience.

I painted light little flesh colored rectangles in preparation for this task and painted each person in direct watercolor. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I tried to stick to 2 or 3 values to keep them simple - plus they are small and on a page that is about 4 x 4 inches so there was not much room for details.

Direct watercolor #16 - People eating lunch at Liberty Station

I had to go to the San Diego Watercolor Society to pick up a painting from the gallery. My painting of a building in La Jolla was in the March show. I have not been able to pick it up since the Covid outbreak which caused the gallery to stay closed. It is still closed but we were allowed to pick up our work with social distancing procedures.

I wanted to hang around the area due to the nice weather and beautiful surroundings. One half of the Liberty Public Market shops were open and the people were wearing masks so I went in for a quick visit to buy some pastries. My new obsession.

Direct Watercolor 14 - Wheelbarrow

79 degrees in my backyard today. I painted Gary's wheelbarrow.

Keep Going - Direct Watercolor #13 - Cartoon Journal

Maybe I get tired of doing the same thing after 2 weeks. I thought it was 2 days. The daily practice of direct painting everyday has been beneficial of course, so I will keep doing it for 17 more days.

Direct Watercolor #12 - Holbein Paint Tube

How did this watercolor painting turn out so small? It might have been the 4x4 inch paper I am using, even though I intended to fill the page with my subject. I also had to keep my painting away from the paint mess from the previous sheet. These splotches happen when I close the book before the paint is dry.

This direct watercolor sketch is a paint of a Holbein Tube watercolor paint. The color is Ultramarine Deep. It was painted without a preliminary drawing. I am taking part in the #30x30DirectWatercolor2020 challenge.

Direct Watercolor - Dixon Lake, Escondido CA

Finally an outing with Inland Painters and the courage to get out in public to paint with my friends. It was so hot that it seemed the only people enjoying the lake were the fishermen and fishing families. We went early and stayed in the shade. It was wonderful being outdoors enjoying the lake again.

Lake Dixon, Direct watercolor #10

Loves at Lake Dixon, Direct watercolor #9

Maureen and Pat plein air painting in oils.

Sue Ann plein air painting in oils.

Direct Watercolor - Salt Shaker

Day 8 I created a toned background, inspired by Julie Crouch or SF Sketchers, before I dropped in my direct watercolor.

I need going out in public training.

Direct Watercolor - Apple

Day 7 I chose to paint an apple from life. I always forget to eat them before they go bad. 

Direct Watercolor - Succulent

I decided to draw from life again because it gives me more pleasure than drawing from photographs.

This is a little succulent from my patio. I thought a small painting would take less time, but it took just as long, waiting for certain areas to dry.

Direct Watercolor - Boy at Jousting Tournament

Day 4 of my direct watercolor practice was created from a photograph I took at the Jousting Tournament in Poway. This boy was sitting at one of the booths on the tournament grounds. I liked his costume and his posture as he sat, probably bored to death.

As usual with direct watercolor, my technique was to go from very light to very dark using glazing as I built up the image to define the subject. I did not draw the image with pencil first, using only watercolor and brush.

Direct Watercolor Day 3 - Bird Bath

This sketch painting was done from life while sitting in my kitchen patio. A bird will stop by occasionally to drink or bathe. I had trouble getting it to look round. Again, no line so I also had a hard time getting the cement bird shape.

Direct Watercolor Day 2 - Sheep

This direct watercolor painting took me a long time. It was hard to do the faces, placement of eyes, length of head and shading without lines. There were subtle changes in the color and shading in my photo reference. The sketchbook page is about 4 x 4 inches. 

Direct watercolor Day 1 and my definition of direct watercolor

It's #June! Working in #directwatercolor #nolines #onlypaint #chicken #sketchbook #30x30 #30x30directwatercolor2020

There are a few definitions out there about what Direct Watercolor IS. My definition is to paint directly in watercolor without doing a preliminary drawing. In direct watercolor you do not use pencil or any other drawing material in any amount. You can also paint as you wish, which in my case means glazing, painting one color over the other which is an effect I like to see in watercolor paintings. This is my first direct watercolor painting of the month.

Another Virtual Art Meeting

SF Sketchers Monday Morning Zoom Sketch Group meeting was this morning. The leader always shares a quote and then asks us a question about art. On this page I was drawing while listening to others share how art has saved their life and also an 8 minute sketch of one of the attendees who posed for us. (Derwent sketch pencil).

The leader asked for us to show a virtual background. This is Lowell in front of an octopus.
8 minute pose (stabilo)

 3. Lynn, posed in front of one of her photos from Adelante, Baja California. 8 minute pose (stabilo).