Purple Silos with Red Poppies (2 Versions)

Title: Purple Silos with Red Poppies
in Watercolor
7x7 inches, micron pen and watercolor on 140-lb cp
©2009 Christine Pierce
(please click on image to enlarge)

Title: Purple Silos with Red Poppies
digital interpretation
24x16 inches
©2009 Christine Pierce
(please click on image to enlarge)

The paintings done for the Different Strokes from Different Folks challenge are supposed to be done with traditional media. Digital interpretations are not allowed. So, I pulled out my micron pen and watercolors, painted the top version, and submitted it to the challenge.

And then I pulled out my computer stylus and did the second painting, based on the first. I guess you could say, "Different Strokes from the Same Folk."

All in all, I enjoyed creating both paintings. Surprisingly (to me), the watercolor version took much less time than the digital version. And I can see what a difference cropping makes. I am very partial toward the square format, and may end up cropping the digital painting so that it, too, is square.

You can see the reference photo here and the other artists' terrific and varied interpretations here.

Different Strokes from Different Folks Challenge (Week 32-34)

Title: Man in Orange Shirt
6"x10.5" watercolor and micron pen on 140-lb CP
(please click on image to enlarge)

Karin Jurick's challenge at Different Strokes from Different Folks (week 32-34) is a photo of Madison Avenue, New York City. Although it features taxi cabs and lots of tall buildings, my eye was drawn to the person standing on the edge of the sidewalk. I think he lends a bit of humanity to the busy urban landscape.

Diana and Friend: Different Strokes Challenge

Title: Diana and Friend
5.5x8" watercolor and micron pen
(please click on image to enlarge)

This week's challenge at Different Strokes from Different Folks features Diana and her adoring dog companion.

As I was painting this, I remembered a useful tip in Stephen Quiller's book, Water Media Painting with Stephen Quiller. He states,

I use Naples yellow, cobalt violet and cerulean blue in many of my watercolor paintings.... I use the paints in many cases for aged architecture, stone walls or marble statues (emphasis added).

I found it really helpful to limit my palette, something I hardly ever do. In addition to those three colors, I added a touch of Quinacridone magenta. I look forward to working with more controlled palettes in the future; well, at least some of the time!

Here is a link to the DSFDF blog where you can see the reference photograph and all the other interpretations of this challenge.

Different Strokes for Different Folks Week 27-28 Challenge

"Faraway Dreams"
(watercolor, micron 02 pen;
please click on image to enlarge)

This week's Different Strokes for Different Folks challenge features a photo of some people frolicking at the beach on a beautiful summer day. My eye was drawn to this man looking wistfully (or perhaps contentedly?) out to sea, which is why I titled this piece, "Faraway Dreams."

You can see the reference photo here and all the wonderful different interpretations on Karin's blog.