Watercolors by Celia Blanco

Mediterranean Pine Horizon Study watercolor on paper 30 cm x 14cm NFS  This week I have worked on a landscape based on a photo I have taken in a nearby park. I liked the high horizon line with the Mediterranean pines dotting the landscape. I first started out with a loose warm up exercise (pictured below). I began painting without drawing and allowed myself a 15 minute time limit. For my formal painting I wanted to play up the colors from my own imagination. I chose to work from a black and white photo to give myself the possibility to explore different color schemes instead of what is really in the landscape. It was a fun exercise to stimulate my imagination.  I ended up cropping away half the painting because the path and grasses was competing with the tree line. It is great to experiment, I love the learning process inherent in each work, whether good or bad. I drew a line where I felt I needed to crop.  30cm. x 20 cm. my warm up sketch ...

  A Gull watercolor on Fabriano Artistico paper 29,5 x 22 cm NFS I belong to an on-line art group where each member takes turns providing photo inspiration for a monthly challenge. I am late on my contribution for January. I like the opportunity to work from another person's point of view because it pushes me to look outside of my comfort zone. Not having much practice painting animals, this gull is exactly what I had in mind. My work in progress, almost finished. I approached the painting  following a watercolor tip provided by Angela Fehr. One of her many suggestions to stay loose in watercolor is to not obsess over details. A great way of doing this is to work from a photo on your phone.  Add the fact I can't see anything small without reading glasses... I have surely uncovered a wonderful approach to a loosening up my style. I really focused on just the broad shapes whiled choosing to emphasize the beak where all the action lies.  I ...

Violets watercolor on paper 12,5 x 18cm/ 5" x 7"  Available The one tiny bloom in my African Violet has inspired me to grab my paints. The leaves with their funny texture always attract me, I decided to highlight them more in my composition. I was also tempted to break the rules of perspective. Instead of placing the focus in the obvious center, I positioned it in the upper corner. My wish is to build up to the bloom. I hope it works. I hope everyone is having a nice Sunday!

“Sometimes,' said Pooh, 'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” ― A.A. Milne  hand-lettering project watercolor on paper 21 x 30 cm.  close up of the dragon fly My daughter asked me to create this for her room. I love including handlettering in my sketchbook, usually quick notes to myself. I also enjoy copying different font styles, mostly playing with ideas, always in my sketchbook. This is the first for me. After a hundred tries,  I think I am finally happy with the outcome. It has been very difficult to get the paint just right on my brush to keep the flow.  A dragonfly adds extra interest to the composition. I had a lot of fun with the project.  I'm including a link to a video of an artist I subscribe to. I love her tutorials, this might be useful to anyone exploring the concept. Saturday is National Handwriting day. The day is celebrated on the anniversary of the birth of John Hancock. I w...

 A Good Morning  29,5 x 22 cm watercolor on  paper Available  I always wish to improve when I challenge myself anyway I can. The Daily Paintworks weekly challenge is exactly what I am talking about...to paint pastry. It is naturally challenging to paint food from life and not a photograph because it means contemplating it, not eating it right away. It took me two days, safe guarding it in the refrigerator in the meantime. I wanted to capture the early morning light as it streams into my kitchen.  I am very proud, I fought the temptation to the very end!

 Clementine Still Life 18cm x 25,5 cm watercolor on paper Available I hope everyone is beginning 2016 well. It is a time of year for renewal and self improvement. I am always hopeful to discover ways of improving and growing as I develop my artwork: more sketching and painting are always on top of my list! My first painting of the year is a clementine still-life. I painted this set up from life. They are presently found in abundance, easy to peel and full of flavor. I have been buying them by the crate load. I find the long leaves elegant and with the right amount of contrast to the bright orange peel.

balcony with column watercolor on paper sketched plein-air I have focused on my neighborhood, outfitted with my sketching supplies, this month. I find myself feeling better while sketching on location on trial and error.  I also fine tune what works, what to avoid, what to bring, best time of day, etc. I really enjoy sketching this way. One never knows what to expect, ideas are always challenged by changes to the environment. The "cafe sketching" experience was more successful this time. I went with a friend, as had been suggested, it is surely more fun! Have to admit, I do have more enjoyment scoping out interesting architectural areas. I find myself looking at people's laundry, hanging over windows, in a different way.   I thank everyone for your kind visits to my blog throughout the year. I wish you all a wonderful, Happy New Year! the pink house on a hill watercolor on paper sketched plein-air morning tea break sketchbook page