I started using a light wash of pink that I thought I would overpaint with swashes of darker color to get highlights on head.  Same as back of bird only I used a teal.  I kept darkening the teal as the light wash didn't work.  I couldn't manage to get the effect I wanted so I started using thin brushstrokes (feathers) in dark red and black.  It seemed to work but it was not what I wanted.  I also went back over the head with white thin strokes for highlights.  Again, not what I had hoped to do.

My landscape was from the middle of the lake.  I took a picture and painted it later.  I am not sure what caused all the circles but am guessing it was water on the camera lens.  Again I am still struggling with the water colors.  I left the white white but needed a few white highlights and could not get them.

Went to Balboa Park and sketched the Cabrillo Bridge with the San Diego Tower.  Clouds in the sky, 70*, Light breeze.  I carry my supplies in a back pack in a ziplock bag.  I usually have a heavy sheet of plastic to sit on if there isn't a bench or other perch. This was fun to do.  Took a little over an hour to do.  

Managing my materials is no problem.  While my husband fishes I sit and sketch so I have a bag ready to go at the drop of a hat.  Now I just need to include my paints.  The sketching is going really well. I feel I have really improved.  sketch of the stellarjay turned out so good and then I started painting.  Watercolors are really frustrating me.  I cannot get the colors write and I cannot paint in the details.  I gave up after trying multiple times for detail.  I like the facial expression but the rest ...I give up.

Painting from a photo exercise--I used layering of colors.  I found this technique useful but time consuming. Its hard to wait to get to the next color. I think you would definitely need  a photo to complete in the field journaling if you want to be detailed.  I enjoyed this exercise but don't always have the time it takes....

It is very useful to work small and leave enough space to test the colors

This is my practice using my own reference photo of a Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher. This is one of my first birds using only watercolor and I erase the pencil lines.  I test the colors before aplying them on the bird.

This was my watercolor practice from a reference photo. Overall I am happy with it, had problems with the beak, but the eye turned out pretty good. I am not at present able to go much beyond the backyard (gearing up for knee surgery), so haven't put together my field supplies but really appreciate all the hints and ideas.

I’m coming back to this lesson and this work with entry(ies), but this is my attempt at building up 3D form through color and shading while using reference images. This snow bird (Arctic White Ptarmigan) seemed like an obvious choice to try to make standout through subtle shading and minimum coloring.

Beginning to work with color provides all new challenges plus, also, new fun.

Two common German birds!

Material management, well lets just say I currently have a lot of sand in my pallet. I have a zip bag that I keep my field sketching supplies that allows me to quickly take my supplies for a bike ride or a weekend getaway. In the bag is : a jar to hold my erasers,  a brush holders that holds my brushes and pencils,and pens. The lose in my bag is some was-hie tape. Then I have a small on the go watercolor pad my husbands makes with 300lb hot press.

This being my first landscape in color it was a task i used a complimentary colors.

Here's my practice from a reference photo of a Blue Jay.  I like the head and neck which took a lot of layering to get right.

Today I didn't have the time to go to some of my favorite observation/journaling spots. This is a Japanese maple in my back yard, and a place I love to sit. This particular tree has led me to many questions about tree structure, functions, patterns, etc.

Did this from  a photo I took while out hiking.   I found the thistle difficult to get the colour accurate and the spikes were challenging.    I’ve never used water colour before, I really enjoyed it.      I’m happy with how the bumble turned out.  

I have a little backpack that fits everything and I did bring a water bottle to fill up my water brush. The paint set I have (not the recommended one...l already had a few) didn’t have white so I brought along a Lyra Aquacolor water soluable crayon in case I needed a tint.  Another brand I have is Neocolor II. It was a good solution. I also found, since I had a small place to mix paints, that using tints, tones and shades of the same colors, just adding the same blues, greens and complementary colors back in as needed, saves space. It was pretty sunny and my paints dried quickly so I could glaze over areas and the colors were related. Image of my finished landscape and the water soluable crayons (available at many art stores without having to buy a whole set. I think a watercolor pencil in white would work too.) 

This is an island where my dog and I go for a run. I pack sketching pencils and paint kit in a backpack along with a camera. The things I often forget to take are a test paper and something to wipe the pen on to dry it so now I just use another page in the sketch book. Usually an hour is all the time I want to sit in one place so it helps to take photograph of the scene. When I get back home I can focus more on adding the details. Capturing the colour of the water, its movement and the sense of white water are areas that still need practise.

       

I posted before an attempt to paint a watercolour piece - BUT I spit water one it by mistake ! I didn't want to move forward without posting something here that I'm well satisfied with. So, I followed the video. I lost control while using the water several times (I don't know why I lose it alway while brushing the right side!) The original plan was to paint the background, however, I forgot that and went straight forward to the bird. Didn't want to take the rest and ruin this piece too. I lost the side fruits as well >.>

1. I create a special place for all my materials so it is easier for me to find them and start sketching. I set a place that it is easier to remember so I can find it immediately. 2. I have learnt that I tend to move forward from the focus and create something different with various colors as you can see from my pictures. Observations are really good, I enjoy hearing the sound of the water, I observe flowers and try to observe them deeply and longer. I do enjoy watercolor very much. I struggle with animals and birds. I truly dislike to draw them, I love drawing trees, and I enjoy watching the different types of trees.

While Painting

• The first thing I noticed when comparing my “outdoor sketch” with the photograph is that the horizon line was not right.  I corrected my sketch and planned my painting layers ahead before mixing the colours.

• My goal was not the sketch nor the scientific knowledge built from the observation, instead, I was focussing on experimenting with the watercolours and the brushes. I planned four layers: -1- the background; wash the sheet with the required colours and waited till it dried. -2- used dry brush for some parts and add some bright colours for the details. (Then I stopped! I just stopped and I don’t really know why!) Here were the incomplete sketch waited for me:

• The following was the “planned layers” -3- apply the glazing technique for the background and a hint of glazing for the foreground. -4- finally add the details lining and texture.
• HERE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP FROM THIS EXPERIENCE   Never move your sketchbook/sheet colours and change your location WHILE painting — a simple thing might happen:

 

• I full cup of water poured over the painting — I didn’t noticed that until I went back to continue the work. P.S. the water was from the brushes container not a regular cup , I totally forgot to empty it >.<
• now I don’t feel like finishing it — I’ll have to have a better mood or maybe I’ll go back to sketching then I’ll get back to the watercolours (I really really really wanted to finish this piece - it was going to be my first completed watercolour piece)

By the way, I have to say that I couldn’t use my notebook for the watercolours .. the water ruined its pages, thats why I used single watercolours sheets. (another tip!)

I’ll divide my reply to this discussion into two. First: before painting. Second: while painting. Before painting I went to paint a still-life outdoor, just before the sunset. Although I had all my watercolour set with me, the humidity was high - what I’ve done was to get  a quick sketch of what I see. Tried to write a colour code (to paint it indoor) but I thought it won’t be good enough so I took photographs after finishing the sketch. I made sure to have colours of the sky as well as the details. So, I took several shots: When I went back inside to paint, I felt I need to create a reference sheet. I sticked with the basic colours only (I know I have ready colours but mixing colours has a much deeper feelings which I liked). The reference sheet was done - and just before that I lost my motive to paint, therefore, I left the sketch for the next morning.