Orange Pansies

Orange Pansies, watercolor, 12x9, 2012

I'm calling this one done.  I seem to be interested in leaf forms these days.  These pansies were a door prize at a baby shower I attended a month or so ago.  The darker leaves are a flowering plant that has not flowered yet this year.  Metaphorical possibilities abound.  I need to continue to work on this sort of thing.  I'm switching techniques too often in the one picture, and I still struggle with light.  Maybe focusing in on a smaller section would help.

Rice Creek Leaves

work in progress, 9x12, 2012, watercolor

work in progress, 9x12, 2012, watercolor

It is a hot day today.  I went out painting before it got too warm, but had to stop to go pick up my daughter from cross country practice.  I plan to try to work on these some more this afternoon.  My deck is in shade in the afternoon.  If necessary, I could work inside as well.  

I'm feeling discouraged by the wide gulf between what I envision and the reality of what is showing up on the paper.  I know from past experience that what I need to do is just keep painting.  Still....

Locke Park Leaves

Locke Park Leaves, 7"x11", watercolor, 2012

I went looking for a place that was not too far away and had moving water.  This park had many footbridges over a fast moving stream.  Very nice.  The spot I chose also had some fallen logs that had turned mossy with new plants growing between them.  The idea I was going for here was the sensation of focusing on a small detail among the cacophony of stimuli. I'm also trying to do this post as quickly as possible so I will believe that I can post more often.  This time it is 20 minutes from photo to hitting the post button.