After seeing all the artwork that Laurie and Christine have done, it's gotten me motivated to try my hand at some watercolors.
Art and the kids have been encouraging me to get back into doing some artwork, but I just didn't feel the urge. I know my limitations. My brother, Dennis is the family talent. I'm OK with classroom bulletin boards.
Still, since my first grade granddaughter, KC has been sending us drawings I felt we needed to reciprocate. Art has also done a card for her that she loved.
I got out my paints and did a card with anthuriums on it. I sent it to KC a couple of weeks ago.
Tiffany called and said KC loved it. She especially loved getting a card via snail mail just for her and enjoyed reading the letter I wrote to her.
Well, that was a lot of motivation for me so I did the second card of the wildflowers I saw during the canyons national park trip we took in June.
It's fun to paint again. With each attempt, I learn a little more.... but it's not easy to cultivate the skill. I showed Dennis what I did and he's told me I need to get the right kind of paper and the right kind of pen, etc. He's also encouraging me to keep working at it. It's not easy. I don't have the memory for detail and my fingers don't have good control.
But I'll try.
Art and the kids have been encouraging me to get back into doing some artwork, but I just didn't feel the urge. I know my limitations. My brother, Dennis is the family talent. I'm OK with classroom bulletin boards.
Still, since my first grade granddaughter, KC has been sending us drawings I felt we needed to reciprocate. Art has also done a card for her that she loved.
I got out my paints and did a card with anthuriums on it. I sent it to KC a couple of weeks ago.
Tiffany called and said KC loved it. She especially loved getting a card via snail mail just for her and enjoyed reading the letter I wrote to her.
Well, that was a lot of motivation for me so I did the second card of the wildflowers I saw during the canyons national park trip we took in June.
It's fun to paint again. With each attempt, I learn a little more.... but it's not easy to cultivate the skill. I showed Dennis what I did and he's told me I need to get the right kind of paper and the right kind of pen, etc. He's also encouraging me to keep working at it. It's not easy. I don't have the memory for detail and my fingers don't have good control.
But I'll try.
your work is beautiful! Watercolors are such a calming activity, I think everyone loves the personel touch and I agree with KC, snail mail is wonderful!! Keep painting Kay, its lovely!
ReplyDeleteKC is a lucky grand daughter! Your lovely hand painted cards will be keepsakes forever.
ReplyDeletewhat a delight to see your work Kay! Your flowers are beautiful! You can join the Paint Party Friday and Sunday Sketches art co-ops. There must be lots of other art co-ops out there too.
ReplyDeleteYou have plenty of talent! You should see my drawings, if you want to see what lack of talent really looks like. :-)
ReplyDeleteRemember "Tipping Point" Gladwell said you only need to do it 10,000 times and you are an expert.
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely, I so wish I could draw. My father painted beautiful water colours, but it doesn't seem to have rubbed off on me. When I first started at the grammar school (aged 11) we had to draw a tea spoon. Mine didn't pass muster, so I wasn't allowed to do art but had to go and do needlework instead. I'm glad I did needlework, but I think I'm scarred for life about drawing!
ReplyDeleteYou probably have more painting talent in your little finger than I have in my whole body!!!
ReplyDeleteIf you can do that well on your first try in a while I would say you have some talent. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThose are very pretty and original. I like them.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I was inspired to try a water color of some flowers yesterday. You will notice that I do not publish the results. It is so important to do something creative everyday...IMHO.
ReplyDeleteWhy not take a class like I do? :) Or go to the Library and get some books on water coloring. :) Nice colors there.
ReplyDeletemy nephews drew me a b-day card last month. It was mostly crayon scribbles
ReplyDeleteYou get an "A-plus" Kay! Those are beautiful! I'd buy those from you!
ReplyDeleteKeep trying different flowers or scenes, and see what happens.
My elderly neighbor had painted a lot in the past, and created notecards with some of her individual, small paintings copied on the front. Her surviving husband and daughters were so glad to have something she really created by the time she was gone.
My Mom went to a class, and painted only two things: a set of apples, and a huge barn owl in a tree. We wished she would have done more, but she didn't want to do it anymore.
DrumMajor
Awwww shucks! Thank you, DrumMajor. I'll try scenes next. I wish your mom had done more too. Sigh...
DeleteThese are very beautiful. I'm sure your granddaughter is so pleased to have these and I bet they are displayed in a prominent place in her room.
ReplyDeleteYa, ya, ya....
ReplyDeleteIt'' not what your fingers can do, it's what we can see, and it's lovely!
The right paints, pens and paper do make all the difference. I have two little artist granddaughters on my hands, my sister gives them the proper tools and their work is lovely.
Your artwork is beautiful with such careful detail. I think your brother's advice is a good one. I know I am guilty of not using the right tools and techniques before starting a project, so my projects don't have a permanence to it.
ReplyDeleteL...w
Problem is there aren't a lot of good art stores around here. Just Ben Franklin, right?
DeleteI love Hawaiian Graphics, which has everything, including watercolor paper blank postcards. Go up McCully Street from King Street, then hang a left on Beretania St. and go about 100 yards (one football field), and Hawaiian Graphics is on the left along with a lamp store.
DeleteThank you, Hank!!!
DeleteBeautiful work. She appears to be related to uncle Dennis.
ReplyDeleteBTW my surgeon's partner, who visited me in hospital is a Japanese American guy from Hawaii,Dr. Maurada, I think.Dianne
Ummm... Diane, that's not 6 year old, KC's work, it's mine. I'm still learning though. Your doctor's name is probably Maruda, Murada or Morada. How exciting to know he's from Hawaii. I wonder which island. Do tell him we all send our island greetings.
DeleteThose are lovely, Kay! And it's wonderful that you are creating them for KC and sending real mail! It's also a great thing that you are doing for yourself!
ReplyDeleteKay,
ReplyDeleteI bet KC keeps those watercolors cards you made for her with her always! Just wonderful!!
Or--KC's mother may do the saving. I still have pictures my granddaughters made and now they are grown up. One of my favorites is a turtle (I'm famous in the family for liking turtles) with a cartoon balloon coming out of its mouth containing the words "Hi, Nono." It's particularly funny to me because turtles don't vocalize. Explanation: I'm called by the Italian word for Grandpa which is actually "nonno," but they don't spell it that way. Now my granddaughter has suddenly announced out of the blue that she's coming to Hawaii. I'm clueless as to what is going on and mildly apprehensive. She is a rather edgy individual, but we always have had a special bond (probably because I have no disciplinary function.) But of course I will pave the way and provide a place to stay.
Deletethe important thing is if you enjoy it...
ReplyDeleteThose look real good to me, especially taken for what you intended: fun cards to your granddaughter. I paint and draw and one of the recurrent comments people have about themselves is that they can;t do it. They can't paint. They can't draw. But there are many things going on in the visual arts: color, design, expression, feeling. I make no claims for my art whatsoever. Here are a few comments I have received. "You must be a happy person." "I like the colors." "You make iconic pictures." "You're in touch with your inner self." "You are a neo-primitive." "You've got something, but I don't know what it is." I agree with them all and take them with a grain of salt.
ReplyDeleteI especially like the last comment for me. People probably won't understand what I'm doing either as I practice more.
Deletethey are beautiful!! i draw a lot of inspiration from the people around me and from other bloggers.
Deletelove, love, love getting a hand written note via snail mail!!
Wow! You are an ARTIST! I LOVE your drawings. (You know we both love flowers!!)
ReplyDeleteI love that you shared this. Now, get yourself busy and become a famous artist. You know you want to!
Love,
Kay
Hay, I think those are really good. I'm pretty much a stick figure artist myself. I'll bet it is a treat in this electronic age for your Granddaughter to get something specially made for her via snail mail. That would have to make a child feel special. Keep it up.
ReplyDelete1. Listen to Dennis.
ReplyDelete2. Just do your best.
3. Have FUN :-)
ALOHA
looks lovely to me too.
ReplyDelete