First Trip to the Beach painting class

Here is the first project for my classes: "An Imaginary Visit to the Beach"
I posted this over on the class blog but since it is private I am going to post it here.


This was really fun. I'm a stay at home grandma so I prepared for this painting while Alexis was at school.  I didn't get to actually painting till she was home. So she did homework and I painted.  It was nice. The house was so quiet. 


I didn't have all the colors that are on the list but I already have a lot invested in the paints that I do have. 98% of them are Daniel Smith Fine Watercolors.


So what I did was mix my colors to what looked like the colors in the photos. 
I may buy one or 2 of the colors on the list.  I also don't have the pen that draws in white.  So my painting is done without it. 


I discovered that my cell phone has a very nice digital timer.  I set it for 45 min. and began to paint.  After 45 min. this is what I had.

I am using a watercolor block that is 7"X10".  I kept the fish to one side so the painting is 7"X6".  I wanted to leave space for writing.

I didn't have any raw sienna so I mixed yellow ochre & raw umber.

The fish is mostly burnt sienna, raw umber, moonglow and new gamboge.

The shadow is moonglow and raw umber.

I finished the painting in 66 minutes. I added a few details but I noticed that the more I was adding the more fake it was looking so I stopped. I reinforced my shadows and I did add a touch of chinese white to the starfish.

I didn't have cobalt-teal but I did have a color called duochrome cabo blue. It looks to be the same color except it has fine fine particles of sparkle.  I thought it would be ok since this was water. I also added some cobalt blue to the water. Since I didn't have the raw sienna for the sand I used yellow ochre & naples yellow. 

So here she is after 66 min.

This was really fun. 

I took a photo of my desk where I painted. I do have a lot of colors but when I go to paint outside or the beach I have a L.L.Bean tote bag and the pallets have lids and fit perfectly.  I do not take all those brushes. I pick what I like and roll them in a matt.  It looks like a sushi matt.  

Today was the first day that I have ever used the water brushes. I love them. I have to say that I didn't even touch my water container. ok, maybe once. :-)

I used the 2 water brushes, med. round & small round, and one Isabey squirrel brush very small.

I probably will paint a few more starfish.  We get our next assignment on Friday.

Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions.
Albert Einstein