
‘Bright and bold’ watercolour horse portrait on arches 9×12 ” 140 lb coldpress

‘Striking and bright’ watercolour on 30x40cm 200 lb coldpress
Today was about getting away from my usual colours, the natural tones I love so much.I wanted to try painting bright, where any colour will work anywhere, just picking darker shades in certain areas, a very enjoyable technique. I did two horses, the first I didn’t use enough water, the second I think I may have used too much, as I was getting too much colour bleeding, which resulted in a loss of definition, and a near mass mixing of paint on the paper to create mud!

‘ girl one’ Loose watercolour arches 9×12″ 140lb coldpress photo reference from Sktchy app

‘Girl two’ Loose watercolour on arches 9×12″ 140 lb coldpress. Photo reference from Sktchy app
I then went onto the Sktchy app, where people post photographs you can use to paint, mainly people portraits, so I picked a couple I quite like and had a go at people, I found these easier, maybe I got better at the amount of water needed, and the amount of detail to leave out? Oh and the flicking and splashing of paint, just love that bit. Do check out the Sktchy app if you need inspirational reference photos, there are thousands to choose from with new ones posted daily, you can also check out the art others have created with the same photographs, which is great to see, as everyone views a photo differently, resulting in such variety in the art works produced.
Amazing artwork!
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Thank you Alexis and welcome to my blog 😀
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I love all the colors! (K)
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Thank you Kerfe, it is great to find colour for a change 😀
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A gorgeous turn to your work!!! Just love these colors, you rock it, T
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Thank you Laura, so pleased you like them, it was great using colours I never usually use, do check out the app if you get chance, as there is some great reference opportunities 😀
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Bah, R! 💜
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Wow there is an app where people post photos to paint? That is very cool! I wonder if those photos can be used for art quilt ideas too…hmmm… The horse is wonderful, as is all your art! I love the colors!
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Thank you, we’ll do take a look, I couldn’t put a link as it is an app, but people are creating all sorts with the photos as inspiration, so I don’t see why a quilt wouldn’t be ok, I say go for it 😀
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This is great, I think you’re really onto something here! Those portraits really are awesome.
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Thank you Jacob, dare I say it, but I preferred painting the people in this style….eek what no hair!
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Love them all. How fun to step it of your comfort zone.
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Thank you, It was so much fun to use colours I often don’t touch… And people! Comfort zone challenged 😀
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These are so gorgeous Girl! and very expressive and loose…..I am jumping inside! yay you….go you! lol 😀 I am a little excited. The girl portraits are so beautiful and again…..expressive. I think I love them the best. I truly love horses and your depiction of them…..but the way you worked these out are fantastic. The eyes on the first one is haunting and the second those splashes! isn’t it fun to let loose? I know what you mean about the water, paint ratio….ugh, still learning and fighting that one. It is a “jump in” and learn thing and evidently it starts to make sense. Wow….you knocked my socks off! way to go!
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Thank you Margaret, I actually prefer the two girls also, I think it is maybe because I am so inclined to paint the horses the way I always do, and it’s so hard to try not to! I also hadn’t considered that the two horses were on different brands of paper, I think the arches can handle more water, which I had not achieved with the horse head, so on the second larger horse( on different paper) I added more water, and this paper really flooded too much, I moped it up with the brush the best I could, and tried to correct without making too muddy…I wish I could afford for arches, grrr. I also think that with the horses I should have left more white paper, but again this is a problem I always have…I should chant to myself each time I paint WHITE WHITE WHITE WHITE!
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tell me about it! I need to make a cheat sheet of sorts with all the reminders hanging in front of my nose to get the point across….Leave White! first on that list! lol
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These are fantastic! Love seeing how you step out of the ‘normal’ and had fun adventuring. Brilliant work, thank you for sharing.
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Thank you, so pleased you like them, lots of fun had for sure 😀
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Loose and lovely!! I really like these!! So gorgeous! And the colors…fab!!
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Thank you Charlie, I plan to practice this style a little more, it’s so much fun 😀
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Yay! Can’t wait to see more!
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Beautiful! I enjoy that you challenge yourself. It is a vital part of growth in the creative process. You use color well, natural tones or bright. Thank you for sharing, CKS
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Thank you, and welcome to my blog Connie, I have been trying a few more, for some reason I am struggling with horses in this style? Keep practicing!
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You are welcome. Indeed, practice never fails! At least in my experiences. Good Luck and happy painting! CKS
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Bright + Bold + Loose = Wonderful ! Love it!
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Thank you, a little different for me 😀
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