WCW271 - Watercolor Rose Painting

Today's card/paintings were inspired by WCW271 over at Splitcoaststampers. I have to say this was time around it was VERY challenging for me!

Why did I find this challenging? Because there were a couple of videos to watch and applying what was in there wasn't easy for me. Painting flowers is very slow and tedious, but I already knew that from the flowers I've painted on my cards when using stamps instead of drawing them. Was it worth the time? Yes! It was worth it because I've always wondered how to add more color and keep it smooth and blended so it looks just right. I've seen it done over and over in tutorials, but no one has stopped to explain it the way Jessica at Sunlit Brushstrokes does in these videos. I was always doing wet on wet, then getting frustrated when I couldn't figure out how to add more color without leaving streaks every where or overworking the paper.

All I have to say is I'm glad that I'm doing each painting two times! Why? Because I learn a LOT the first time I paint something! The first thing I learned with this flower (and Jessica mentioned it as well) is that paper matters! I've started all of my WCW paintings in my journal, so that way I can get all of my kinks out and the second one I watercolor turns out nice enough to put on a card. I love my journal, but it's not Arches watercolor paper and that is what I have found works the best for me. For this particular technique I learned that the watercolor paper in my journal could only be painted, then lifted/blended together one time to look its best. If I tried it again even after my paper was dry it started to pill and fuzzies started coming off the paper. That's why the bottom of the flower looks so much better than the top! While it's not bad for where I'm at in my journey and considering the watercolor paper I used, I'm definitely very aware of all of the flaws and what I want to correct the second time I paint it. 

Now the flower on my card was done on Arches 100% cotton cold press 140lb watercolor paper and boy could I tell the difference! Plus I learned very quickly not to overwork everything. There were a couple of areas that I did lift the color and start over. Can you tell where? Probably not! Since I only remember one spot specifically even though I did it a few times. That tells you paper quality matters!

I also have to say that at this point in my watercolor journey I rarely paint anything on my own. Why? Because I'm still learning and still need guidance as I'm working. I've learned so many new things and haven't done it consistently long enough to retain everything I've learned, so it's better to follow along for now. I'll keep painting away and eventually it will be time for me to give it a try on my own...I think! lol

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

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Supplies used on this card:

Calypso Coral

Daffodil Delight

DaVinci Artist Watercolors - I have the Scratchmade Da Vinci Watercolor Palette, the Autumn Watercolor Set, the Warm Up Watercolor Trio, plus a few random colors - Titan Buff, Joyce's Mother Green, Payne's Gray and Artemis