Comments on: Oh what a delicate and fragile flower confidence is

By: John

John — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 13:09:28 +0000

In reply to Sarah.

Hi Sarah, so pleased you’ve found me here and thanks so much for you kind words. Yes, it’d be great to get together sometime – I very rarely get to actually ‘talk’ watercolours with anyone face to face so it’ll be a real treat!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 14:16:04 +0000

Hi John.. Your blogs and paintings are great… I find my confidence ebbs and flows on a daily basis… Can’t wait to talk to you about your approach to painting.. We approach it from very different places but I can really appreciate your pure watercolours. Regards Sarah. Ps Im also taking on board all the other great ideas and suggestions in the previous comments. Definitely going to check out the ‘Realistic Abstracts ‘ book mentioned above.

By: John

John — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 15:53:22 +0000

In reply to Vanessa Wagstaff. Hi Vanessa and thanks so much for visiting and for your comments. I've found working from other artists really helpful, especially with developing a few tools of the trade in terms of washes, etc but I have more recently been heeding your advice. Since my post Flying solo I've only been working from my own reference materials and have been really enjoying it and feel that I'm beginning to find my own voice as it were. As for trying oils... maybe one day, but I think I've still got far too much on my hands already with watercolour without adding anything else into the mix! Thanks again for visiting and taking the time to comment, it's much appreciated.

By: Vanessa Wagstaff

Vanessa Wagstaff — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 14:09:46 +0000

Don’t get to bogged down by admiring other artists, have set days when you just try things out with absolutely no pressure on a finished article. I try just doing washes, or skies…from any ref…pastel works very well with watercolour too…splatter….more comfortable in the studio too than plein air. But your results look good so far…and I throw about 60% of my watercolours away, as it’s so uncontrollable. Oils are far easier….

By: John

John — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 20:27:06 +0000

In reply to davidrpharmer. Thanks so much David. I'm increasingly doing a preliminary sketch which I'm finding really helpful. I think the most valuable part is allowing myself the time to really think about how to paint it. I think my on location enthusiasm got the better of me on this occasion!

By: davidrpharmer

davidrpharmer — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:36:38 +0000

I like Take 2 especially. The simplicity and the mood appeal to me very much. The sail is important, just giving a nod towards human involvement. A pencil or ink sketch is vital, I think, otherwise the structure tends to get lost, especially if there is architecture involved. This, though, is a successful painting

By: Margaret Parker Brown

Margaret Parker Brown — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 15:11:21 +0000

In reply to John. I'll be looking forward to that post :) Paint on!

By: John

John — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 12:58:14 +0000

In reply to Margaret Parker Brown.

I think your ‘new attitude’ is great – and it’s obviously paying dividends too as I think your painting has hit new heights! I think this is one of those things whereby the answer lies in the doing. I just need to get out there and get on with it. As for my set up, it’s all a bit ramshackle and home made. Funnily enough I was contacted last week by someone enquiring about my drawing board so I’ve promised to do a post about it with pictures and measurements in case anyone wants to fashion their own. Thanks for your support and encouragement Margaret – it’s much appreciated!

By: John

John — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 12:51:29 +0000

In reply to Bec. Thanks Bec and I think your flask and biccies suggestion is great. It's basically something to do with my hands whilst waiting for paint to dry - left to their own devices, my mits are right meddlers!

By: Bec

Bec — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 10:45:24 +0000

Ah the life of an artist can be so emotionally brutal! It reminds me of holidays where I’d decided I would do an outdoor drawing every day, and doing horrible drawings that were crushing (usually in the first few days)….. what I also remember is that by the end of the holiday (if I stuck with it) it had all got soooo much better.

I have no doubt you’ll flourish on the course and come away with tactics and confidence to paint outdoors more. A flask and good biccies while you appreciate the view might fill the drying times too (if a little less productive than your suggestion)!

Good recovery and best of luck, Bec x