I’ve been practicing some cloud studies. These were painted on Arches 140lb rough watercolor paper.
My Granddaughter studied the first and second painting, above. She asked about all the dots for the trees. I told her that was pointillism and it was how I usually painted trees and foliage. I explained it was a way to add texture or a rougher look to certain things in a painting. Of course she had to try it. 🙂 I love watching her work. She selected a photo reference of a garden path. Below is her painting:
Leslie White 
26 Comments
So beautiful they made me smile wide! 😀
“Practicing Clouds” a poem in a title. Lovely.
Thank you, Jamie! 🙂
Beautiful! Particularly your first and third one. Oh and of course your granddaughter’s one is very sweet. 🙂
Thank you, Val! 🙂
All your clouds (and paintings) are great, but I love, love, love the first one. And seriously…your grandchild did the last one. Please tell her I think it is FANTASTIC!
That first one surprised me, Carol. The trick to that nice sky was wet the paper once and paint sky and stop. Wish I could do that everytime. Granddaughter thanks you. I am so glad we spent so much time together playing in paint and that I trusted that she could use the good quality materials with guidance. I do believe it makes the difference. Thank you, Carol.
The patterns are speaking out! Very nicely done Leslie.. Right now I am clicking away the lovely patterns from my window almost everyday so that I can work on them one day !
Your grand daughter’s talent is obvious, such a pleasure to enjoy a child’s expression.
I know, Padmaja. Clouds are so elusive. Painting them and changing them and capturing the shifting and the shades. So much to learn from clouds. Thank you, Padmaja.
First of all, your granddaughter’s piece is brilliant! Much better than I could ever do! Love your cloud studies but my favorite is that lowering, stormy sky, photo 3. Just stunning and so my favorite kind of sky!
Thank you for that comment about the third one, Sherry. Seemed I worked forever trying to get the colors deep enough. My Granddaughter thanks you for your comment her way. 🙂
you have an artist in the making, Leslie. such a good rendition… all shaded so well… I wonder if Mother Nature practices with her cloud formations?… 🙂 Have a wonder-filled weekend… xx
Mother Nature must practice with her cloud formations, Pen. 🙂 She constantly changes them and remakes them. I think artists could spend a lifetime recording clouds. Thank you, Pen.
Your paintings are of course very accomplished but I thought your granddaughter’s impressive assuming her to be a child. I thought it a pretty sophisticated approach leaving white paper and mixing shades.
Thank you for the comment directed toward my Granddaughter. She is seven, but has painted with me since she was two. We were paired six days a week for the first four years while Mom worked. Painting passed the time…and pastels…and collage …and clay. Now? She visits once every other week and the first question is always, “Can we paint?” We did a lot of other things, Kestralart, but I hope the painting gives her something to do for years to come. Another thing she likes to do is draw with a pencil. We often lay on the floor and draw in our sketch books. She has just discovered shading.
She clearly has talent and skill but the credit for where she is now is yours from the sound of it. This is impressive for seven.
I think I can only take credit for having spent the time sharing with her. I have two other Granddaughters and one of them likes creating and the other doesn’t. So, I think they have to like it…. The granddaughters that like it can’t ever get enough of it….. Makes sharing it with them very easy.
Each one is so different and wonderful! I love that teeny homestead in the first one, really gives that big sky feeling. Love the clouds in the second one, and wow, such great color and turmoil in the last one. And your granddaughter did a wonderful job with the dots. 😀
Thank you for saying turmoil in that last one. That is exactly what I was trying to capture, Cindy. Clouds are so elusive. Thankyou for the comment on Graddaughter’s painting. 🙂
Such different styles for each one. I love the distance vista of the first one. You have quite a budding artist in your granddaughter. I can only imagine how wonderful her work will be as she grows up. I hope she can keep the freedom of her experimantation along the way.
Your last sentence. Perfect. I am hoping she keeps that freedom, also. So far, so good. Her Mom helps with this and they do art projects at home, also. I just hope she doesn’t acquire too much of that self critical voice that comes along all too soon. You know, the one that says, “That doesn’t look right.” 🙂 Thank you, Ruth.
Nice clouds hey Leslie – Your granddaughter is so fortunate – she will always have the other voice, which you have given her saying “it is just ok to give it a go – failure is success” _ I loved Jamie’s comment about a poem in a title
You are right about that giving something a go. She likes trying everything. I like Jamie’s title, also. I forgot to google if there was a poem titled that. I’ll go look, now. Thank you Stephen!
As always, I love the variety of what you paint. Each painting has different energy and style.
Thank you, Nancy! 🙂
I have a hard time with painting clouds. You are doing a great job Leslie 🙂
Thank you Cindy. Yes… me too. That’s why I practice them from time to time.