Welcome back to 30 Days of Painting! My goal is to get myself painting every day so that I can feel more comfortable with the brush. I’d love to be able to illustrate my stories for myself and my family, but I lack confidence and facility. Hopefully by turning my hobby into a daily habit I’ll be able to find my comfort zone.
After yesterday, I wanted to reset my mind and go back to my old techniques for creating murky waters. I’ve done a number of shipwreck and light house paintings, so I know how I like to do water. Example:
But this time I wanted to really focus in on what felt right to me, and try to locate the point where I step over the line and do just a bit too much. But as you can see with the boat itself, my biggest problem in painting is knowing when to stop – sometimes I’ll stop before a piece is really done because I’m afraid of adding too much color and contrast, and sometimes I have things just the way I want and then I slap more paint on anyway. Then I compulsively move my hand like I’m hitting “ctrl z” on my knee and sigh in futility. I think I made both errors on this painting.
There’s no undo button in painting, unfortunately. I’ll just have to practice. Which brings me to:
Day 3: Murky Waters
I did two small pieces to see if I could be a little more careful. In my first attempt I went too far, but I think the second I did alright. The color effect is a bit too subtle to pick up in such a small project, but I think it would be right on a larger piece.
And that’s Day 3. Check back tomorrow for my next attempt.
8 thoughts on “30 Days of Painting, Day 3: Murky Waters”
robstroud
On that shipwreck I like the way you have the sails on the broken mast unfurled in the chaos. Now, as to why you might paint “a number of shipwreck” pictures… I’d prefer not to offer any psychoanalysis…
Michelle Joelle
No deeper meaning analyze – painting takes practice!
rung2diotimasladder
I like that painting! I should post some of mine to make you feel better…boy do I suck. Funny that you mention the time to quit. My art teacher in high school would go around the room telling people when to stop. He was funny about it too. He’d stand back scratching his chin, hovering behind you while you painted, then at some point you’d hear him bellowing, “Stop! Stop! Put the brush down! Put it down!”
Michelle Joelle
Thank you! I’m sure you’re not as bad as you say. And I need that art teacher on my shoulder!
brett milner
The two small pieces have a compelling quality about them. I’m not enough of an art critic to say anything much beyond “I like.” 🙂
Michelle Joelle
That’s as far I take my aesthetic theory also, so I’ll take it! Thank you!
agrudzinsky
I’m impressed by the shipwreck painting. I’ve heard, water is very difficult to paint. I like how you painted the storm.
Michelle Joelle
You’re too kind. I actually find water to be one of my favorite things to paint, because it can appear in so many different ways. There’s choppy water, smooth water, huge waves, reflected light, foam on the surface, splashing foam, and so much more.