Watercolours of Lilies of the Valley

 Patience is back! She was afraid she had forgotten all about painting but, luckily (and not quite unexpected) she remembers how it's done, and look at her first this year!!

Last time the Aquarellistas got together, it was the first of May, the Day of the Workers, symbolized in France with the 'Muguet' or Lily of the Valley.  Guess what our inspiration was....

 

Marvellous modern interpretation by Annabel Clarke

A perfect Lillie of the Valley, with strong background, by Celina  

Marie-Claire's subtle version, the thick green background actually works well!!

Jane painted this awesome, free impression of the muguet

Michele F created two versions - based on the same example, but so different

Vanessa is back - and she has not forgotten how to paint. This amazing bunch already works!

Sylvie D. worked along with us from home - and created her version in her usual free style. Love it!

And last but by no means least, Sandra's 2 minute muguet-painting. Amazing use of wet-in-wet and negative space...

Of course there were also other projects going on:

 Brigitte fiished her poivron from the complementary colours-project

 Liz started with not one, but two water paintings! They still have some masking fluid on them but you can already see that she nailed it!

Michèle C - our Breton correspondent works with us - And How! Here's her water-project. One word: Fab!!

 Bev is back! She landed in Nice, came straight to the Hangar - and started this wonderful flower composition with peonies, gerberas and irises. A super painting!

 Sandra's beautiful Berber man is now officially finished. He is mild and wise. Very well done!

Golden Eggs for Easter - Fabulous Watercolours!

 Sheila painted a big golden leaf with three gorgeous metallic eggs on it. And a clear marker for where she wanted me to cut it...

 

Inspired by Easter - and by Sheila's request to experiment with painting 'metal' we painted metallic eggs last time. Lo and behold - it was just a try out, but the results are awesome!!

 The last watercolour of Michele C this season. And a good one too!! 

Well Done Michele, those copper eggs are fantastic!

And how about this Set of Six Shiners - great stuff by Liz, with her signature loose yet powerful brush stroke!

 Celina created this beautiful Easter image from a combination of still life (the eggs) and imagination (the twig & ribbon) the eggs are so light in weight and shine! Good work Celina!

This is Elia's impression of the Easter egg basket we had on the table. 

Poetic and Amazing As Always, how does she do it?!! 

 Unfinished golden egg by Michele F. She used salt to show the irregular grainy surface and a bit more salt & pigment is needed for the middle part, but if you squint you can already see how it is going to be! Very shiny, very gold and very texture-y 😵!

 

 

Brigitte created this lovely nest of three golden eggs. Next week she will make them a little bit darker to bring out the 'gold' look and enhance the egg-shapes!

 Anna Karin used her fine-pointed big brush to paint these fragile eggs on a shiny plate. They are fantastic already, and will be joined by a little bunch of herbs (hopefully more next week!)

Marie-Claire skipped the golden eggs to work on a related exercise - the spheres! She's got it, they really have volume!

Isabelle did the same, but from home - they look good, and have volume, despite the fact that she hasn't used one great trick. I know that after I tell her these spheres will be even more 'superbe'!! Do you see what I mean? (click on the image to enlarge)

Couldn'y help myself - Cathie was working for herself and painted these amazing pears.The fresco-like effect is so wonderful!

And last but by no means least, the Easter bouquet from Jane. Not finished, but painted with such a spontaneity, it jumps from the paper. Looking forward to seeing the finished version...

TWO (2)'s in Aquarelle

Last Tuesday was (lightly) marked by Valentine's Day, with our subject '2' (two)... Have a look, it is  interesting to see how different every single Aquarellista took the subject!!

Two swans, in very atmospheric colours by Anna-Karin. She did a wonderful job on the reflection, and the exciting distance between the beaks! Impressive... 

 Here's a shiny twosome! Very different and still so connected, it looks as if they are dancing! This small watercolour by Linda makes me smile.

The new girl in town, Christine, let herself be inspired by the '2' and created an imaginary air-photo. Very original take and  interesting abstraction!

Another superb duo, by Agnès, there's certainly love in the air - read more about this in the Hobbysketcher blog!

Elia B painted this barefoot couple on the beach, with beautiful reflection. At first sight very romantic, but at second glance: they are clearly in deep discussion, and is it me or is stormy out there?

Lovely couple of penguins by Liz- a simple painting that expresses so much!

Next blog we'll know more about Celina's gorgeous parrots! The eyes will tell it all - are they in love, or just friends!

And of course there were aquarellistas with their own projects:

Jane started with her wild cat - really hers (as far as a cat can be yours! It chose her one day and accepts her food) and really wild. You can already see all that character and history in this unfinished version!

Here's another lovelyl watercolour by Sheila! She is not afraid to try something new - and every time she surprises us with the result. This sweet little lighthouse is telling us a story and what I like best about the painting is the sky! Well done!

 Marijke tries out all Hangar sessions and here's what she achieved in watercolours! I am amazed at the warmth and transparency of this picture... Not that I want to push anything, but there's definitely potential there!!

 Liz finished the hand with brush, it could be on the statue of liberty, but for now it is our new header on the Aquarellista Facebook page!

And another Newspaper Painting by Cathie!! We witnessed the progress, amazingly fast considering this is almost completely painted with a '3-hair brush'. I am in awe. And we can look forward to at least one more to come

Filigree (Open Work - Ajouré) - a good subject for Watercolours

 Michele C's awesome fantasy animal. I am seriously impressed by it and can't wait to see the finished painting!

Last session we decided on a subject that everyone understood, but no one knows the official word for it. My dictionary said 'Open work' but that doesn't really ring a bell for the Anglophones. Filigree would best describe it, and "ajouré" in French. Anyway, Sandra, Cathie, Michele and Linda started a 'Filigree' painting and Liz finished hers...

 Linda worked on a Celtic-inspired pattern. She really nailed the metal, and in the next stage it will get it's 'open' effect...

 Liz' kitschy Cup - so perfect in every aspect, with filigree doilie - beautiful example and possibly the inspiration for the subject!

There were more kitsch paintings that had to be finished:

 Elia B.'s little boy with tear, now perfected, the tear is just that little bit extra to make it fit the 'kitsch' bill!

Sheila's little boy now also finished: The light is great, both on his hair and his right cheek - but also these sad sad eyes. And let me mention it for the last time, this is her second watercolour class ever... Amazing!

A hyper kitschy small sculpture, perfectly painted by Michele C., who also discovered that the sculpture is actually a piggy bank (or tirelire as we call it in France) with the slot in the green part...

And last but not least there was the free work:

Jane painted this balanced, peaceful watercolour of two beautiful cats.

 

Carol started a painting of her sons. Of course she has just started, but it is already so expressive and strong! Love it!

 Sheila's new project - looking very promising!!

 Awesome painting by Elia, expressive and still. Very well done with the dark colours!

And last but not least, there was work again on the blocks!

 Liz's 'War' and Anna-Karin's 'Peace' and 'War', great additions to what we already have... Note that this is watercolours on wood (treated with Watercolour Gesso)