Thursday, April 10, 2014

A poet's muse


I wish I hadn't mucked up on lotus buds. If only they were a little softer....

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Moon at Night

Moon as she glances into our world through the veil of night....



Also done a year ago. Watercolor on journal page with digital background.

Lotus Nymph

This painting was done last year in a day. size was approximately postcard size.
I hope you like it.

Testing the waters (watercolor swatches)...

Here are some swatches I did in order to study the pigments I have. I hope some one finds them helpful....

The complete selection of watercolor paints comprising Daler Rowney, Aquafine, Fragonard (Pebeo), Pebeo fine, and Camel artist's (Camlin Indian brand):

Earths are mainly Camlin. I tried to get the scans closer to actual colors but some colors proved very tricky to scan right. Specially french ultramarine and cobalt blue deep.

Detailed pics (Click to enlarge):

Yellows and Reds:
I ordered quinaphthalone yellow, unfortunately the seller was unable to deliver it. So for now I am using Lemon yellow by camlin instead.

Left to right
1st Row: Lemon yellow-? (camlin); Aureolin-PY40 (daler rowney); Permanent dark yellow-PY65 (fragonard); Indian yellow-PY153 (daler rowney); Warm orange-PO73 (daler rowney)
2nd Row: Perm. Magenta-PV19 (Fragonard); Perm. Carmine-PR5 (Fragonard); Quinacridone red-PR209 (DR); Pink madder-PR209+PY65 (Frag.); Vermillion hue-PR255 (DR)
3rd Row: Permanent Rose-PV19 (DR); Ruby madder-PR122 (Frag.); Magenta- (camlin); Permanent Magenta- PV19 (DR); Cobalt Violet- PV14 (Fragonard)

Violets, Blues and Greens:
Left to right
1st Row: Indanthrene blue-PB60 (DR); Indigo-? (Pebeo); Fragonard Violet- PV23 (fragonard); Permanent Mauve-PV23 (DR); Ultramarine Violet-PV15 (daler rowney)
2nd Row: French Ultramarine-PB29 (DR); Cobalt Blue deep-PB72 (DR); Prussian Blue-PB27 (Aquafine); Pthalo Blue-PB15 (Frag. Pebeo); Cyanine Blue-PB15:3 (Frag.)
3rd Row: Veronese Green-PG50+PY3 (Frag.); Cyanine green-PG7 (Pebeo); Fragonard Turquoise green- PG50+PG7(Fragonard); Manganese blue- PB15:3+PW5 (DR); Cerulean blue- (Camlin)
4th Row: Hookers Green-(camlin); Hooker green dark-PG7+PY65+PY74 (Fragonard); Sap Green- PG7+PY65+PY74(Pebeo); Green gold- PY129 (DR); Payne's Grey- PV19+PB15+PBk7 (Frag.)

 

Comparison of some violet pigments. fragonard violet is duller, muted and darker than permanent mauve by daler rowney though they both are same pigment PV23. Camlin one is similar in hue but but very weak color (less staining and pigmented) compared to others. Where as camlin magenta is surprisingly unique, bright, smooth, pigmented and lovely red violet (though what pigment it consists of is mystery).
And then three swatches at last comparing three pthalocyanines I have.



Earths:
Left to right
1st Row: Naples yellow- (Camlin); next four various raw siennas and ochres from different camlin artist's watercolor boxes collected over time.
2nd Row: Burnt sienna-PR101 (Fragonard); Raw Umber- (Camlin); Raw Umber- (Camlin); Raw sienna-PR101 (Frag.); Yellow Ochre- (Camlin);
3rd Row: Burnt sienna-PR101 (DR); Burnt sienna- (Camlin); Burnt sienna- (Camlin);Venecian red- PR122+PR101(Frag); Sienna?-(camlin)
4th Row: Perylene Red-PR179 (DR); Perylene Maroon-PR179 (DR); Transparent Red Brown-PR206 (DR); Light red-(camlin); Light red-(camlin)
5th Row: various burnt umbers from camlin.

These are all camlin earths except first one from left in 2nd row. That is Fragonard raw sienna. It is weaker, more earthy and granular than camlin raw sienna's.

Love the vibrancy of Daler Rowney colors:

1st Row: Burnt sienna-PR101 (DR); Perylene Maroon-PR179 (DR); Perylene Red-PR179 (DR); Permanent Rose-PV19 (DR); Quinacridone red-PR209 (DR); Warm orange-PO73 (daler rowney); Indian yellow-PY153 (daler rowney);
2nd Row: Transparent Red Brown-PR206 (DR); Vermillion hue-PR255 (DR); Ultramarine Violet-PV15 (daler rowney); Permanent Mauve-PV23 (DR); Permanent Magenta- PV19 (DR); Cobalt Blue deep-PB72 (DR); Prussian Blue-PB27 (Aquafine);
3rd Row: Indanthrene blue-PB60 (DR); Manganese blue- PB15:3+PW5 (DR); Green gold- PY129 (DR); Aureolin-PY40 (daler rowney);