"A Quiet Moment" watercolor landscape

Finished!  I think I learned a thing or two.  This paper, as I mentioned, is tricky.  I stuck with it though, and tried to get it to work for me.  It took longer, and the effect is not what I intended.  But I'm satisfied I did the best I could.

For those of you who do watercolor, this paper is Fabriano Artistico, 300 lb and I think it is hot press.  It has a jel layer on the surface.  So, watercolor doesn't soak in the paper.  So I don't recommend it for washes and loose work.  The paint sits on top.  One of the aggravating things about it was:  I did a light wash, on dry paper, below the rocks to depict the shadow of the rock on the water.  It looked OK while wet.  When I came back to it when it was dry, there was a dark outline.  The paint migrates to the edge of the wash and leaves a very hard edge.  Arches does not do that in such a noticible way.  So then you have to go back in with a damp brush and soften a lot of edges.  In the area of the willows where the dark evergreens are behind, I found it very hard to soften the edges, because then you lose too much color.  I imagine that if I loved this paper and worked with it exclusively, that I would learn to use it.  But after this project, I'm ready to go back to Arches.  I think this painting took twice or three times longer to do than it probably would have on Arches. 

"I don't do windows", but I will now!

I snuck out (is snuck a word?) and took my horse to Washoe Lake Park for a ride today.  It was nice to get away from the puddles and mud at the barn and pick our way around the sand dunes.  For the very first time in his 21 years, he thought it would be nice to lay down in the sandy trail!  (with me on him!).  Before he made the next move to lay on his side, I hopped off and told him to get up, you naughty boy!  I believe he had an itch that a nice roll in the sand would scratch....

When I got home I did more on my painting.  And at 4:00 the sun was low and I had a hard time taking a picture of it without my shadow on the work.  Then when I put it on the computer - what are all those vertical streaks!  They are not on the painting at all!  Figured out it was my dirty streaky windows!

Still water reflection and a few ripples

Hmm, there is a mark in the sky - but maybe that is the lens of my camera - it is not on the painting.  I am still continuing with this painting.  I'm still working from top to bottom.  Since the bottom of the paper does not have much there yet, I cropped it off to show just what I'm working on.  This paper really behaves differently.  Just when I think I've done damage, a little wipe with a damp brush, and all is restored...

Weekends can be a little difficult to paint.  Here is the reason why:  here is my watercolor studio!  The kitchen table.  On weekends I make a big breakfast for my husband and I, and then there is also lunch to have....and then dinner....all on this table!  I have to put away, take out, put away.... oh well.