Fearless Friday, Less is More
Today I’m sharing a fun technique,
an impressionistic approach to your subject, with watercolor
This pink door photograph was my model
As you can see below,
I simplified the scene,
drawing only part of the door, one lamp,
and merely suggesting the flower pots and door details
I began with a simple pencil sketch of the door and lamp
Then I began to add color with different strengths
of Daniel Smith Quinicridone Pink watercolor
Small abstract shapes,
made with tiny strokes and dabs of the paint brush
to indicate the flowers in the wreath
and the pots on either side
Varying the hues of the pink adds interest,
if everything is the same color depth
the painting will lack focal points to draw the eye
I used several different greens,
again varying the intensity,
to fill out the wreath and pots
The lamp was painted with a few strokes of Quinacridone Gold
To finish,
I used a black fine liner pen to add defining lines
and added shadows with various Payne’s Gray hues
I hope you’ll try painting with this “less is more” concept in mind,
Give it a try and Be Fearless!
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado Love Your Creativity Over the Moon
Between Naps on the Porch, Celebrate Your Story,
All About Home/ Common Ground Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Tasty Tuesday Oh My Heartsie Girl Turn About Tuesday
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Impressionism is what I love the most about watercolor Jenna. Love your adaptation and pretty details! ♥
Thank you Mary 💕
Jenna, I love this watercolor. Doors always fascinate me and I often photograph them. Happy Friday!
Me too Pam, doors are like the beginning of a story that you can’t wait to read…
This is so beautiful! I want spring!
Thank you Dorothy, Spring can’t come soon enough for me 🙂
This is great. I need to get better at doing this pre-editing. I focus so much on the details that sometimes I think my stuff gets bogged down with unnecessary features. I love how this makes everything stand out so well.
Thank you Jeanie, I know what you mean, it’s easy to get caught up in too many details…this is a fun way to challenge yourself
I love doors Jenna and did a blog post on them. I am always photographing them. I love this impressionistic approach to your watercolor, it’s very lovely. Very interesting watching you create and it leaves me with a happy feeling. Happy Friday sweet friend……….
Thank you Emily, doors fascinate me too, and I love to paint them!
Jenna, its so interesting and fun for me to see the process! Like Emily, doors intrigue me, and I too have a file of doors I’ve photographed when traveling or just walking our neighborhood. In fact, I have post in draft, Valentine Doors. I need to get it posted. Love your painting!
Thank you Sarah! I look forward to seeing your Valentine doors, doors fascinate me too~
You are constantly growing and changing – a sign of a creative mind, for sure. I find it more difficult to paint/draw “less.” I get bogged down with tiny details and it ends up being frustrated and jumbled. Good lesson.
Thanks Leslie Anne, it’s a fun challenge!
Jenna, this may be one of my favorites! It is so pretty and feminine, and I love the colors you chose. Enjoy your weekend!
thanks so much Shannon!
I have a “thing” for doors anyway, but your interpretation is just so beautiful. Indeed, with this work, less is more!
thank you Linda, doors are fascinating to me too~
Well done. Makes me think how spring is around the corner, (hope, hope!) Hehe.
I hope, I hope!
Beautiful Jenna!! Love this style. ❤️❤️ Totally agree, less is more. I’ve been trying to work on just that.
thanks Patty Anne, it is a fun technique!
This is lovely. I keep saying that I’ll try this, but I never do. I do have a small watercolor pallet, and tried it once, with absolute disaster!
Thank you Pattie…have you tried watercolor pencils? You can color with them and them blend them out with water and a paint brush. This gives you more control than painting strictly with watercolor. I think watercolor is the hardest medium to paint with, you never know what’s going to happen 😂
Oh how beautiful! Spring is coming! And that door!
Happy week to you my friend!
thank you Nancy, I can’t wait for Spring!