Summer Lessons....Bees and Blooms

 I taught a class to my 5 summer artists and we all loved the delicate wings and petals in this scene. Our goal was to use iridescent watercolors successfully. The backgrounds could be solid or variegated with one color or more using aa drip method to lift the transparent blue...just for fun.

Bee with pearl highlights

Variegated background using blue and violet

We dripped clear water to make the shapes in the blue background, then let it dry

Our reference came from a Facebook artist whose bees were magical.

Turkish Lanterns ...Light Up Your Life!

 

Ok, the truth is, I have always loved and collected lanterns but it wasn't until I was visiting in St Helena California on July 4th that I found a shop with every color represented and aglow with light! But...it was closed! So I took my photos from the street and knew I was going to paint these magical mosaic lights.

Lighten UP!

I started with this larger sheet of paper and an arranged grouping. My original thought was to have a dark background but I realized a lighter area was needed.

I borrowed shapes within the lantern itself but also made up some designs in the pattern of the mosaic tiles. I also borrowed some proven palettes but created a few of my own. Then I positionined these lights vertically anmd horizontally, left and right,

 as I felt they looked best.

Light Up Your Life

I am not sure this series is over as yet...i want to leave that door open. I used no masking fluid but I did use a white water based pen to clean edges.  The metal is a bronze or gold on the lamps and chains makes a great texture change. I also like the connection all of them have with their similar tops and bottoms.

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Enjoy!

Ok, the truth is that I have always loved and collected lanterns