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.

Hoedown Sisters

Title: Hoedown Sisters
5" x 7.35" digital painting
©2009 Christine Pierce
(please click on image to enlarge)

This month's Virtual Sketch Date features a photograph of two young sisters dancing at a hoedown. The reference photo is really small, but I think I captured the essence of the image. And I had great fun smooshing around the colors for the background!

Horse and Red Poppies

Title: Horse and Red Poppies
Digital Impression 20"x24" ©2009 Christine Pierce
(please click on image to enlarge)

This week's Inspiration All Around Us challenge features a beautiful horse standing in a field. The horse is so magnificent, but the wire fence seemed too jarring, so I took it out. You can see the reference photo here.

Thanks for another great photo, Dana Marie!

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.

Inspiration Challenge: "One Way or Another"

Title: "One Way or Another"
4x6 (detail) Watercolor, micron pen, Arches 140 cp
(please click on image to enlarge)

This week's challenge at Inspiration All Around Us is based on a lovely nature photo provided by Dana Marie.

I don't often paint landscapes, but since this one included some animals, I thought I'd give it a try. Who knew a cow could be so challenging?!?

Here is a link to the original photo.

Thanks for another beautiful picture, Dana Marie!

Hydrangea Blooms

Title: Hydrangea Blooms
(watercolor 4x4 on Arches 90-lb cp; micron pen;
please click on image to enlarge)

This painting is based on this week's reference photo offered by Dana Marie on her blog, Inspiration All Around Us. Dana will be posting a photograph every other Tuesday to spark creative interpretations in painting, jewelry or pottery. What a fun new challenge! Thanks, Dana!