Watercolour paintingI've spent the last couple of days playing with paints. The torrential rain this week meant that I felt justified in doing this - how could I be doing those important outdoor jobs when the weather was so awful? I have for a long time been feeling the need to get the acrylic paints out and try and remind myself how to use them. It has been MANY years since I used acrylics, and I have to admit to being way out of my comfort zone. But you know, it was great fun, although I have mixed feelings about the results. It went through 'the Uglies' pretty badly in the middle - I thought it was going to need to be binned, but I persevered and the final result is the painting below. I was definitely hindered by having only large square brushes - I couldn't bear to sacrifice any of my precious, dearly beloved watercolour brushes. The colours are slightly muddy, not as zingingly clear as my usual watercolours, but I suspect that is simply because the acrylic paints are very cheap unbranded ones, whereas my watercolours are top of the range, professional quality. Still, wondering how they compared , I decided to repaint the image exactly using watercolours ( the top image). There are qualities I like about both mediums, and it was a fascinating little experiment. Which do you prefer?
Acrylic painting
The rain lessened for a brief moment, becoming that soft rain that I associate more with autumn than spring. I visited a friend, and took a walk to the top of her hill to gaze outwards. When I was a child we used to dare each other to climb the hill to the cross in the dark, telling ourselves ghost stories on the way. It never really scared us though - there is such a friendly feel at the rocky outcrop here. I noticed today that there is a tiny crescent shaped pool in the rock up here - a moon puddle.
29 comments:
I think I like the color in the top one. Using the brighter colors makes everything pop. The other is more quiet and subdued.
So lovely, you are an inspiration,
I prefer the top rabbit painting, it is a bit more bright, and that is a lovely cross that you visited.
I walked the way of the cross in Jerusalem one Easter many and many a year ago, and humbly appreciate the gift of Jesus which the cross symbolizes.
Lovely paintings, but then I have a thing for hares, especially Moongazers. 9 at last count. The acrylics I like for texture too, especially on fur. Beautiful.
Both are beautiful, but I also really like the acrylic one for the texture in the fur!
Definitely the watercolor! Yours are as pure as any I have seen!
They both have things that I like. The water colors are brighter and more eye catching, but the rabbit looks more "real" in the one done with acrylics...the fur more furry! :)
How uncanny! I could have written that first paragraph! I think I'm just about over the 'ugly phase' with this painting and getting onto the more enjoyable bit. It's been 2 years since I've painted with acrylics and I had no idea how terrible my brushes were until recently, to think all those years I was using them in that state!xx
Hi Danielle
I like both pictures, but think I prefer the acrylics more for the texture of the fur, and I think the slightly muddy colours are more atmospheric.
The view from the top of the hill looks gorgeous!
Best wishes
Dan
These are both beautiful!
Difficult to say which I prefer, but probably the watercolor for it's glowing quality. It's funny, I'm the opposite here - I work in acrylics all the time and it's been ages since I've used watercolors (although I do have all the WN paints and series 7 brushes, so suppose I should really use them, hehe)...the wrong brushes are a hindrance in either medium, but you're right not to ruin sables with acrylics - yikes! Have you tried the Loew Cornell synthetic watercolor brushes? I use them for acrylics, and they're inexpensive enough I can replace a couple every month. :)
~ Carolee
What a magical little place, on the hill. You do live in a wonderful place.
I've been playing with acrylics this week too, and can appreciate the comfort zone thing! I prefer the watercolour hare for illustration purposes and I would expect any cards or prints to be as clear. But I think the acrylic one would look warm and soft hanging on a wall, and so for that it's the one I most like.
It's a great experiment, and don't give up with the acrylics :)
Acrylic for me -- touchable!
If I hadn't seen the watercolour version I would have said "What?? This was the painting you thought had gone wrong?? are you mad?" LOL
But I can see that the watercolour one is sharper, clearer, more vibrant...however I do think the acrylic one has it's own beautiful energy.
Not a 'wong-un' at all!!! :)
There's more light and transluscency in the first and the mood of the hare is clearly different. However, the second has a darker, more sombre mood and that goes with the much older, perhaps tired and care-worn hare.
I think the first painting looks more accomplished as far as the 'feel' and 'look' of the colours and, I suppose, brush-work/density and control of the paint.
SWo there you have it...an English teacher's wordy comments!
Like them both because equally effective moods created. Keep on with both types of paint.
They are both great! I prefere the colours on the first one, it is bright and looks full of life. The second one has a bewitching feel to it.
I like the watercolors slightly better, I guess because the colors are brighter. however if I had only seen one picture and not both, I'd have thought it was great!
- The Equestrian Vagabond
I think the watercolor. He is happier, less menacing somehow.The sun has lit him up.
Thankyou everyone :) Isn't it interesting that everyone feels differently about them. I love the way you all tell me so much, and I really appreciate it. Personally, I prefer the watercolour for it's clarity, but feel I need to master the acrylics, and that ultimately, that is where I could achieve the vision I have in my mind's eye. So now, I will invest in some smaller brushes, and continue the learning process. Perhaps I'll try oils too?
My daughter and I have been ogling over your hare for a couple of days now. Beautiful...
It's like asking which child do you love more! The light in the watercolor, esp on the tummy of the hare is more moon-glowy, but the acrylic hare is just as beautiful, but in a different way. It's wonderful that you can channel these images from your imagination through your hand to the paper--a talent I am trying to cultivate.
Great experiment. They're both great. Acrylic hare is more solid and he's giving the viewer an eye..I agree that the texture in this one is great. Watercolour hare tones are more jewel-like... more ethereal, magic let's say. I guess it depends what Hare has to say.
And what a gorgeous crescent moon hilltop you walked to..Green, green.
I think I like the watercolor better; brighter, clearer. JMHO.
I much prefer the watercolors. It just glows! Interesting experiment though.
Definitely the watercolor one (which I thought was your acrylic one, since I was reading what you had to say about the acrylics and looking at the picture at the same time--and thinking wow, I REALLY LIKE these colors, and they don't seem muddy to me). It is so LUMINOUS. But if I hadn't seen that one, I'd still like the bottom one. Great composition and colors.
I sure know what you mean about the "uglies"--I have two drawings that have been pinned up in front of my art table for weeks now that I really need to finish. Most often, continued work pushes beyond that stage, but yes, sometimes, the only thing to do is throw it away.
I have been scrolling up..down...up...down and I can;t say I prefer either, although water colour has always been my favourite medium, because of the transparenccy and luminosity.
Fabulous paintings, Danielle, and I love both equally. What an inspiration you are and you'd never have thought that it's been some time since you've used acrylics. Love the image of the cross and I can just imagine the ghost stories in the dark. What fun! Hope you and yours are magically well. xx
Hi Danielle,
I've been quietly following your blog for a while, but haven't commented before... I'm a bit shy!
I love your watercolours, so fresh and vibrant, and especially your transformation portraits...
I wondered if you used inks as well for some of those lovely deep blues in some of your paintings?
Anyway - a slight ulteria motive if you'll forgive me - despite my shyness I have decided to brave it and started an art and writing blog of my own...
I would be really chuffed if you found time to take a peek...?
www.wordhoards.blogspot.com
Best wishes
Carrie...
Definitely the watercolour! I think your acrylic is excellent also but here is no way you can get the same clarity and transparency with acrylics as many of the colours are opaque. The quality of the paint makes a huge difference. WN Finity range are really good and while considerably more expensive than WN Galleria range the quality is a hundred times better. The WN Galleria brushes are very good to work with and will last quite well. Have fun experimenting!
Post a Comment