Friday, December 26, 2014

New Beginnings

With next week being the beginning of a new year, I've decided to step out of my comfort zone and do some paintings of things I wouldn't normally do - using techniques that I haven't used before. The way we learn and grow is by stepping outside the box and reaching for new heights.

As a beginning artist (I'm a 1-year old), I have so much to learn, but I find I get stuck in a rut just painting the same things over and over again and while I see improvement, I am bored. There are only so many flowers I can paint in a year. What really gives me energy and stamina to keep on going is to paint those things I've had an adventure around - so travel, doing something fun, and painting from my own photos is what gives me energy. When I know the story about what I'm painting I just can't seem to get enough. Where I'd really like to go next is painting dancers. My husband and I do ballroom dancing - it's wonderful! I've never done "people" before so this will be interesting and you'll see my first attempt below.

So this week, being Christmas week I did a few quick paintings. One is of Waddesdon Manor near London. The other I did using masking fluid to create a woodsy scene. For both of these I was experimenting with Twinkling H2Os, luminescent water color paint from ColourArte (http://www.colourarte.com/). I'm always wanting to learn more about shadow and light so that is what these two paintings are all about. Bringing pieces of the painting forward and leaving the rest in the background. Making shadows and creating light. Oh, so many painters out there make it look so easy to do but it's the one thing I struggle with the most.

I also did not want to paint the building a horrible limestone color. I like for my paintings to reflect emotion, so I went with the colors to make it feel happy but regal - it was a happy time to visit the manor and the woods also make me happy. So that's why all the color!



The third painting is my first "dancers" painting. I think it turned out pretty good - It was difficult to control the Twinks from a flesh color perspective. I will need to figure out how best to paint flesh in the future - could be I need to use normal watercolor paints - although I really like the sparkle effect on the female dancer's tights! I also now see that the painting was not entirely flat on the scanner so there are some shadows in the upper right and right side.




Thanks for stopping by! Please leave me a comment - thanks so much.

Posting to Paint Party Friday, Friday Sketches and Art Journal Every Day (see the links on the right). Happy New Year!













34 comments:

  1. These are beautiful.
    I especially like the trees...

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    1. Thanks so much Marianne - Happy New Year to you!

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    1. Thanks Valerie for stopping by and your comment. Happy New Year!

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  3. Lovely work!

    Smiles & Best Wishes, Saskia :)

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    1. Smiles and best wishes to you, too, Saskia - thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Telva, all three paintings are gorgeous. The manor with all the towers and beautiful colors, the trees almost like negative painting and your dancers really mirror the intencity of the dance. Lovely my friend, keep them coming.

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    1. Thanks Laila! So good to hear from you again. Hope all is well and that you are enjoying your holidays. Hope to see you in class in 2015.

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  5. Beautiful subtle shadows on the dancers' skin!

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    1. Thanks so much minnemie for your comment. Happy New Year!

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  6. Nice energy in that tango

    Much love...

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  7. Not in a million years would I think you were one year into painting...these are so amazing...I love how you use colour. The buildings are terrific... I am not a beige person so I love everything you've done! The dancers have wonderful energy! Good job!! May your New Year be abundant in good health, wealth and joy!

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    1. Giggles - so good to see you here again. Oh your comment made my day - I often wonder if the color is too much - I could do more - lol. Thanks for the best wishes - sending them to you as well. xx

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  8. Lovely paintings!
    It's a valuable challenge ~ this stepping outside of our comfort zones.
    Merry creating!

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    1. Rose - thanks so much for stopping by - and for your kind comment. Happy New Year!

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  9. I like all your paintings but especially the dancers, there you have captured the energy of tango.I wish you all good for the New Year, much painting and fun!

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  10. Telva, it is hard to believe you have been painting for only one year. You are doing fantastic. I too struggle with light and shadow. You have done a wonderful job of demonstrating it and I love all the colour you use in your paintings.Your dancers are marvelous. Oh, you are such a natural and you already have a distinctive style. And to think you are working in watercolours. I find that medium very challenging. You are a marvelous artist. Thank you for visiting my blog and for your sweet, encouraging comments. Many blessings to you for 2015.

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  11. Aw, Teresa, you just gave me a big, warm fuzzy. Your comments are so nice. BIG hug to you!

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  12. Wow beautiful work, you've only been painting a year?

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    1. Yes - my first watercolor class was with Dion Dior - she's an extraordinary instructor. I've always wanted to paint. I dabbled in oils when I was just 16 (44 years ago) and someday I'd like to get back into oil but having too much fun right now with water colors. Check out my gallery for other work I've done this past year!

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  13. I love those buildings, would want to live there, colors like candy, marshmallow town!

    Getting out of one's comfort zone is the best way to kill boredom. It's also challenging, but worth every hour of misery and disbelief!!

    Have a creative new year, greetings from snowy Helsinki.

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    1. Thanks SusuPetal for stopping by - please stay warm in Helsinki (one of my favorite capital cities in the world, by the way - really enjoyed my time there in 1986). Happy Creating!

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  14. Wow! Really nice dancers. i can see you know your bodies! I love your colors. i like the trees effect of three dimensions and the drawing of the buildings is fine.

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    1. Thank you Gloria for your kind words! Happy New Year!

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  15. A great selection of subjects to paint and i adhere entirely with painting using whatever colour makes you happy-that's what artistic licence is all about-i especially like the first piece for that reason. Happy New year.

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    1. Thanks Nicola - family members don't always agree... I often lose confidence because of their reactions to some of my work. Different strokes for different folks, I guess! :-) Thanks for stopping by - have a wonderful 2015. xx

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  16. These are lovely! I especially like London buildings -- the use of color against strong line work!

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    1. Thanks so much for leaving me a comment - I really appreciate it! Happy New Year! xx

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  17. Telva, congratulations on being featured at PPF.
    Hugs & smiles,
    Teresa

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    1. I took the day off today Teresa; so when I got the email this morning with your comment above, I was so surprised. I was wondering what the new influx of comments was all about. Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by! xx

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  18. Ho Telva, nice to meet you. Happy New Year! Congrats. On being featured. Love your work, especially your dancers who are very much into their dance. Gloria

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  19. These are all lovely! Especially enjoy the colors in contrast with the line-work. Happy New Year!

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