Chess, Crystals, Christmas Cards, a Clock and Canines - in Watercolours

Anna-Karin finished her chess pieces. She bravely added a transparent (Schmincke) orange to the background and darkened the black fields. The finished picture has a warm and classic atmosphere yet has not lost its spontaneity

Liz finished her second chess board, again a slightly estranged one with it's folded corner... is the opponent unhappy? Or is it just a very good idea of a paper chess board (light and easily transportable).

In the previous post (below this one) you can read about all the watercolours we created with pine cones as subject. But of course there were also Aquarellistas who worked on other beautiful and interesting subjects:

 

 Isabel for instance, who finished her tree as one of the first! she loved the exercise that she cleverly combined with zentangle patterns, and the exercise loved her right back as you can see 😊

After her excellent pine cones Judith had time left to do a portion of her moomin' Zentangle

Marie-Claire's creativity also grew using the Zentangle technique! Look at these soft delicately moving plant-like shapes...

And after finishing the tree, Isabel started a Christmas card, again in Zentangle style!

Michele C. finished her snowflake - it is SO good in every way, well painted, spontaneous, mysterious and a fantastic sparkle!

And here is another awesome icy work, Sylvie D. painted it. It is quite abstract but it tells me a deep story about being little in the winter and looking through the frozen windows

And how about the gorgeous New Years card by Marie-Claire - also snowflake-themed. She used candle wax, salt and white felt pen and it turned out so well!

  

  Violet finished her beautiful still life with pumpkins. It is a present for a family member - who will be delighted no doubt, because it is terrific! The little cute penguin toddler below is also Violet's...

 

 Jutta continued with her cards for friends and family. They will love them no doubt. here you see 4 out of an impressive stack, full of experiments of which she learns a lot. Sounds like clear win-win!

Work in progress: These 4 original cards, designed by Anna-Karin.Mars Black over colours gives depth and feels as if you look through something...

Maud travaille sur un tableau d'une horloge ancienne. Elle a travaillé si dur et au début, la peinture semblait vouée à l'échec - mais maintenant, elle est si belle et je suis très fière de ce qu'elle fait!t!

 Carol finished her awesome group of Norfolk Seals. They are so gorgeous, slowly enjoying themselves on the sand... And se started another animal - a funny -and lovely looking- dog. What a character!

Totem Poles

Ilse is a brand new Aquarellista - and she did an awesome job on the 'balls'

To mark the 'rentree' (coming back after the summer holidays), we painted Totem Poles, in watercolours of course. A big part of our Aquarellista group is still on holiday, so we had plenty space and we could take the time to paint and to catch up!

Although not yet finished, as far as I'm concerned Violet is already the winner of the day with this powerful pole in soft browns

Michele wasn't too happy with her totem, but I love it, it is funny and well done. 

Looking forward to seeing the final version!

Marie-Claire is creating an original (and funny) totem -with a big smile and in swimming trunks

This serious totem is going to be finished in typical Brenda-style, with dark lines. Looking forward to seeing it finished!

And then there were the other projects...

Beverly's Piazza Ducale in Vigevano is slowly but surely coming to an end, getting more and more interesting

Carol started a new still life - looking fabulous already!

And because Ilse actually finished the balls, she started the 'washing' exercise... More next week!

Inflatables through Aquarellista eyes. And more!

 The little inflatable dolphin by Vanessa can't wait until some lovely kid goes swimming with it

We had a full-force heatwave in place and it was so hot in the Hangar. That's why we chose a 'cool' subject. Inflatable pool toys - and the watercolours of Sheila and Vanessa were so lovely, they really helped fight the high temperatures and made us feel refreshed 😆

 And how about this one by Sheila! Has expression of friendly dino. Looks cool. And cute. And well-painted!!

 Of course we also continued with the eyes for the expo-poster.

 Michele painted her open eye-without-make-up. It is naturally hers and truly well done, with the highlights and the soft colour change on the eyelid.

Carole worked on het bottle & brush challenge (getting there, and spectacular when finished no doubt) and in between painted a new version of her eye. Although I was pleased with the previous I must admit that this one is better. Also the angle is more suitable for a 'wink' later.

Marie-Claire was desperate about her eye-painting and she did not believe us when we said it was actually quite good - until she saw it from a distance - and then she became a happy bunny 😊

Violet was back and painted this absolutely fantastic poppy!It is transparent and still strong. What else can I say... awesome!

We have to miss Sylvie a lot, but last Tuesday she joined us and worked on an abstract version of colourful sailboats against the outlines of a village. Of course you can only see the real quality when it is finished - but it is already so colourful!

 

I didn't take more pictures - I blame the heat 😎 (I blame the heat for everything at the moment) but believe me when I say it was a lovely last session, everybody helped each other and there was music and witty conversation, ginger tea and cookies. I look forward to seeing everyone back in September - and maybe during the one 'bring your visitors' watercolour session on 14 August...

Fabrics - Flowers and other Fun subjects in Watercolours

 Amazing result of Isabelle, also proof that 'persevere' is the thing to do when you paint silky fabrics

During our last aquarelle session, many were still working on unfinished watercolours or inspired by other things! But 4 Aquarellistas worked on the subject du jour: 'Fabrics' and as you can see interpreted it all in a different way!

'Weaving' was the swing that Sylvie D gave the subject. She will finish this later, adding the part on the right that is the actual fabric - but already an awesome image!

 Sheila started a basis for brocade, but it ran away with her and she ended up with this gorgeous fantasy-lace! That's one of those things with watercolours...

 Patience really bended the subject  towards surrealism. These folds look beautifully melancholic and if you look carefully (click to enlarge picture) you will find a foot, and eye and more...

The group was very big and we worked with a still life and different pictures as examples and inspiration...

 Michele F brought daughter II, the beautiful Violet. Clearly the talent for colours and composition runs in the family! Above. Michele's little bouquet (almost finished)

Violet worked with watercolours for the first time (!) and here's the big lily she created. So fragile - and the white works splendidly. I love it.

 And talking about talent, Brigitte is really on a roll. She finished her beach view (below) and to fill the time 'doodled' these tulips in a very relaxed way. We were all in awe, looking great!

 Brenda's almost fnished tuscan landscape. It is very sunny - and just needs a little bit more of that typical background - to be added next time

 Sylvie D.also created a Tuscan landscape - I so love the little village on the hill top and those typical cypress trees!

Michele C. works with us in between travels all over the world! She read about our 'perspective workshop' and that inspired her to paint this little street on the road to Compostella (9 points out of 10 for the perspective Michele)

 

Awesome, what more can I say... Brigitte's sunny sandy beach  now finished

Here's the very start of Carol's new painting. I use it as an example to show that in some art the subject is all-important, more than the execution. Even though this is not even half finished, it already touches you with it's story doesn't it!? I already look forward to seeing the next stages...

 Not only is this amazingly well done by Agnès (look at that water, look at those drops from the fountain in the background!) but to me it is also a funny picture: to me the guy in the shell is on the phone - do you see it too? 

Liz started with a new project that will later be a group effort: the brush in the water jar. Cleverly done by her, and who knows, after it is finished we may have to ask: 'is it a painting or a photo?'  

😄

More later - actually much more work was created as we were with a big group, but many had left before I could take the pictures... So sorry - and of course Next Time!