Sunday, May 19, 2013

Watercolor class...

Yesterday I took a 7 hour watercolor class @ the Learning Exchange in Sacramento. It was taught by local artist Robert Dvorak. All in all it was a great class but I did discover something about myself: 7 hours is way too long for me to be in any sort of class, fun or not! I was exhausted when I got home! I was reminded of that old Far Side cartoon about being excused from class because my brain was full! I think my learning curve started petering out around 3 pm...

But none the less, I learned a ton of techniques and came away with a much great appreciation of watercolor as a medium.

And... came away with the total appreciation for needed a LOT of practice to get good at it. It was quite the challenge!

We used a 7"x10" watercolor block and did a lot of exercises and techniques. Here are a few of my meager attempts...

Mountain with waterfall:

mountain waterfall

People:

people

Trees:

tree

Banana:

banana

It was a fast-paced with lots of laughter and fun! A couple of other things I learned about myself: I need to wash my hands more as evidenced by the dirty smudges on my examples, which I did not edit out due to sheer laziness on my part this morning! I also need to move my shoulders and neck around more -- I was very sore when I got home. Even though we had a lot of breaks and up and down times moving out paintings out to dry, I think when I paint I tense up too much and was definitely feeling it when I got home. Relax Rhonda!


Linking to:

Mandarin Orange Monday
Blue Monday
Monday Mellow Yellow
Creative Every Day

29 comments:

  1. Saw your post on the Mixed Media Mondays group and had to take a look. I love what I see! You did a marvelous job with those watercolors. My favorite has to be the banana! Have a crafty day. xx Roudi @ c-is-for-craft.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks for taking the time to stop by Roudi! Glad you like them!

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  2. Wow - you did good! The people are cool, and the banana is quite good. I'd kill to be able to paint ANYTHING recognizable with watercolors. You gotta show me a few tips on Sunday...

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    1. Thanks Leslie! I like them a lot better today, the day after the class... I will bring them on Sunday! Looking forward to another art play day!

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  3. You did really well, I cannot paint like that. Your tree is awesome, and the people too! Congrats!

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    1. Thanks Gerd! I am sure you can, if I could! LOL Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. You did great!! Yea...seven hours is a long time to take in new stuff, cause after a while your brain goes on overload.

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    1. My brain and my body! LOL I was so sore last night (back and shoulders)... fine now. Thanks for the visit Anna!

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  5. I know of you from MMM with Tracy :-) I had to come and check you out!! This is oh so cool!! Love each one of the pics I wish I had more painter-type friends so I wouldn't have to attend these kinds of things alone. :-) I will definitely look for a class now!! This was really good Rhonda.. You should be VERY PROUD of yourself!! ::virtual hugs and Tylenol if you handle it::: :-)

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    1. Thanks Tamiko! I am feeling a lot better about them today and not sore anymore LOL... so glad you came by!

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  6. Your people look really cool, love the waterfall.. Yes when I go to an all day scrapbooking day at about 3 I run out of ideas and just have coffee and talk.. Then I seem to just cut out stuff or pick out papers for the rest of the time but I totally run out of oomf..
    You did really well watercolors are something I have been experimenting with they are so pretty.
    Sandy :) from MMM

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    1. Thanks Sandy! Yes when I am at a group I sort of peter out but this class kept going on and on like the energizer bunny! LOL I was beat but the banana was my next to last thing I did and I like it the best so go figure! Thanks for visiting!

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  7. You also learned that you are creative! Good job, I say, but then again, I am no-way-shape-or-form-an-artist! Thanks for playing.

    Happy Blue Monday, Rhoz.

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    1. Thanks Sally! You are too an artist -- look at your photos!

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  8. Your works are beautiful. I played too. Mine are here and here.

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  9. Fun with watercolors. I especially like the people.

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    1. I need to work on those but I like the idea of how easy it is to make them! Thanks for visiting!

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  10. I would say you did quite well ~ lovely watercolors ~ 7 hrs is a long time ~ Wow!

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    1. Yes but it was worth it now that I look back on it! What fun! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  11. thanks for sharing your lovely art; Happy Monday to you


    much love...

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  12. Hi Rhonda, I love watercolor paintings. I think yours look awesome. The banana looks so real. A long day but something sank in to your art side of your brain. Smile.
    xo, Jeanne

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    1. Thanks Jeanne! I do like the banana too! And it is easy to find more to practice on! LOL Thanks for stopping by the blog!

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  13. You did really well, your watercolors are great... as you said 7 hours is a long time...

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    1. Thanks Zena! I had fun! Thank you for the visit!

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  14. Some great spontaneous and expressive work! A "good student" obviously:)
    Thank you for sharing on Mandarin Orange Monday:)

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    1. Thank you Lori! Glad you stopped by! Thanks for hosting MOM!

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  15. I've only done a couple all day workshops. Like you say EXHAUSTING but I enjoyed them (the ones I did were mixed media and working on one project each time) because I so rarely get to be with other arty/crafty people in real life. Plus both times I was meeting up with friends I had made through Blogland. I know I felt wiped out the next day though :)

    I love your watercolours. It's a gorgeous medium isn't it? I think they and Acrylics are my favourites.

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    1. Thanks Carmen! Yes I like watercolors now and think I might take some with me on day trips this summer to play... thanks for visiting!

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