Colourful Bark in watercolours

This fantastic tree, that looks like it wants to hug you, is so colourful and the effect is even stronger because Ingrid used that wonderful, powerful blue, which, as a complementary colour makes the contrast bigger.

The challenge of last week was 'colourful bark' and it inspired all Aquarellistas in different ways!  Their different personal interpretations have one thing in common, they are all coming from such a good, creative place! Every one of them tells a story. Here are my interpretations - but please have a look for yourself!

Sonya's tree clearly has suffered a lot of weather conditions (and still is) but it is standing tall, its bark so colourful and the image really tells the story of difficult times. In the smaller branches however, you can see Spring is coming!

 

 

Rosemarie let herself be inspired by the bark of an acacia tree. Very beautiful how the natural lines of the watercolour (appearing when you use a lot of paint and water and let it dry without taking off the residue) make the shape stronger

You can see Anna Karin's big brush with a fine point  tenderly move on the paper, adding, removing, pressing lightly and then more firmly, to create this subtle and abstract piece of bark. It has lights and darks in the right places - even a branch, but it could also be a fantastic, warm abstract

 

'Krullevaar optocht, Carnaval ‘21' , Dutch for 'Procession of  Curly Storks - carnival '21' by Judith.

For the non-dutch, the Krullevaar is a creation of a very famous dutch childrens' book writer and looks like this:

Celina's bark is a very abstract and original. I love the colours and the rhythm of the shapes. She reminded me of our lovely friend Sue Ellis, who based a lot of her abstract work on bark! She's right - it can be so very inspiring...

Brenda sends love, an amazing version of the bark-abstract as well as a picture of her view of ice and snow in Isle of Man!! Impressive and beautiful...

And from England, Cari joined us for this challenge! She sends her love - and her bark!

In the meantime... there were unfinished projects and other worthy watercolours created:

Within the theme, Judith gave 'negative' painting a try and painted this natural tunnel of trees, it definitely worked out - I'm sure Celina (our expert on this type of painting) will agree 😀

Hélène has been under the weather for a while, having problems with her eyesight, not an easy thing for an artist, but she is slowly getting better and has given it a try! This is a Destael-inspired landscape with beautiful clear lines and an awesome perspective. Well done, and so brave that you haven't given up Hélène!

And another brilliant, warm and bright watercolour from Switzerland - by Ingrid. Hot summer days with a soft breeze and fragile dragonflies over the pool come to mind when I see this.

Rosemarie used the shape of a fan to find out more about using watercolours with lots of water.

Very good to do that - and still a nice subject that I may just use one of these days!

Not finished but great already and promising so much more (no pressure!), Sandra's young Moroccan woman with turban. So compassionate in her looks. And that background! Fabulous and deeply interesting.

 

Sue was thinking of her family and expressed herself in watercolours! The one above is all of them (Sue, are you the one middle-left? or is that a daughter that looks like you?!). Drawn with felt pen on a background of doodly colours! And below, a card for Laura, jumping with her horse Douglas. I am sure she is very happy with and proud of this original watercolour in Sue's signature loose style!