January 31, 2010

St.Nicolas Church at Ordinka, Moscow

A5, pencil, sepia ink-pen
I was sitting in my car and sketching this church for an hour. The result is very sketchy, but I will return to the place to add more details for sure. I am very inattentive to the details. And only when I started this sketch I realised how complex and beautiful this building is. How many details, ornaments and faces are added by the architect to the decoration of this beautiful church. This is the photo from my point of drawing.

January 29, 2010

Human Photography



I did not have time to paint these days, unfortunately. I did only one painting project, but will be able to show it only in the middle of February.
And I do not want the post about my poor cat to be in the top, it is too depressing...

So I decided to post a photo. Very in tune with my painter's journal :-))

The author of this photo is my Georgian uncle Jemal and this is his blog. He is professional in photography and kindest person with huge soul. His focus is Georgia and Georgians. And he does not speak English, know nothing about internet and blogging.

So, during my last visit I collected 100Gb of his photos and decided I have to post these photo-stories. Please visit his blog. Maybe I am too dedicated and subjective, but I am sure you will enjoy.

January 27, 2010

He Left Me Today



He left me today. I miss him so much.

January 26, 2010

Dzhvari, Georgia


I want to share my photos of Georgia, where I was this December.  This country has fantastic nature, long lasting history and difficult economic situation.
This photo was taken in Dzhvari monastery (means "Cross" in Georgian), these ruins dated V century and the bells belong to church (photo below). The tree in the middle is the "Tree of Desire", where you can leave your secret wish, investing it in small piece of colorful fabric, tied to the tree.

The church itself. It was build in VI century and located on top of the mountain, so the great view is knocking out. I saw underneath the meet of two biggest Georgian rivers Mtkvari and Aragvi, and the view was breathtaking. And the air is so clean and thick, you can eat it with a spoon, we say in Russia.

It was a foggy day, which added extra mystery and grandeur to the place.

January 24, 2010

Vive les couleurs!



A5
Another protest against whites and greys of long Moscow winter. If I go on this way, I can survive the never-ending cold:-)). Color-therapy.

Kotor Again



A5
This one is the last of my quick sketches of lovely Kotor in Montenegro. I did it from my photo taken in October.

Frog



A5
How to survive cold winter days? Use more greens in the paintings. This is the second frog in my whole painting experience. First one was drawn from imagination (it is here), this one done from the photo. I like the result.

January 23, 2010

Iron iron?



A3, Charcoal
Today I went to the drawing teacher and this is the result. I had to draw old times type iron (cast-iron?) at very difficult angle. Still not sure that it turned out right. But teacher confirmed that it was OK. "Do not believe your eyes, believe to the measures of the pencil stick", she told me. Would you recognise it, if I did not write the name of the object? :-))

January 21, 2010

Sketchbook



A5
Another page from my sketchbook.
I painted this leave from the photo. And was puzzled to show the details around - small grass, show, other leaves. Will try more.

 A5
I admire the work of Urban Sketchers group. They inspire me to draw and paint the cityscapes. It feels easy, as I have the straight and clear drawing before I introduce watercolor, besides, the result is predictable, in comparisson to the first sketch, when neither me, nor watercolor know how it turns out...
And I almost forgot to say - it is Kotor, the beautifl city of Montenegro.

January 19, 2010

Lesson



Next lesson from the book, which I mentioned in my previous post.

January 17, 2010

Winter theme



I completely forgot my watercolor manuals lately. Well, it is no joy to follow the instructions, instead of when you can invent something on your own, no caring about the result.
But these lessons give me a lot in color choice and mixing, in light and shadow, in all the details which can easily differ amateur painting from work of professional. Technique. I am not talking about talent, another story :-). And, if I started, I have to finish the book, have to.
Yesterday I decided to return to my step-by-step study. Here is the result. Geoff Kersey's  idea, my  execution.
Learned: 1. Far "naples yellow" sky turns to close "ultram_blu" sky to get depth.
2. Need to hold brush parallel to paper to get best dry strokes.
3. Mix of ultam_blu, cob_blue and burnt_sienna gives nicest grey (lesson repeated). I added also sepia. Better result when colors mixed wet in wet on paper, not on the palette.


I recommend for amateurs:

January 15, 2010

Stuff

My blog's name is "Paintings and Stuff". It's my contribution to "Stuff" part. I love the song. He (Andry Sapunov) is the music/text author, she (Larisa Dolina) is famous Russian jazz/pop singer. At times I feel the urge to listen to this song.

January 13, 2010

Learning Perspective


A5
Based on the Wet Canvas image, which I saved to my computer in the middle of the summer and only today decided to draw.
Wet Canvas is great resource.  Not only huge amount of info, but the most patient and welcoming crowd in forums world. They helped me to believe I could move mountains when I was only starting to draw.

Depressed


Amazing how inner feeling affects the painting. It shows the inside of me: colourless, damaged,  drowning house and dried-up tree with ugly prickly branches. I have recently found out that my lovely cat  would die soon.

January 10, 2010

Quick Stop


I like to draw in my sketchbook. It is quickly and good exercise. Time for each sketch  is 20-30 minutes, limited only by paper to dry period.

I miss bright colors in Moscow white-grey winter, so red tree fits very well to my need for color. The barn looks like constructed by drunken architect, well who knows? Definitely not my fault :-))

I mixed watercolor with white gouache to add yellow to the sunlit  side of the fence. I liked the result and went on experimenting adding it to all other colors.  Learning is wonderful process by itself. Leaning watercolor is double pleasure.
A5 size both.

January 8, 2010

Birds





After half year of painting (I started drawing and painting in July 2008) I recalled the birds have bodies. I mean I always in my adult life enjoyed birds' songing and twitting, it was godsend sound, but only sound. I live in loud city, and my eyes are far from perfect. Anyway.
And then I recalled birds existed in flesh. And I can draw them. And I think they are excellent. I am owing a lot to Konstantinna, dedicated photographer and to her livejournal (here) in my recalling.
I will keep painting.

January 6, 2010

Prescott, Arizona


200x400mm, Daler Rowney Aquafine, 300gr
When I joined the Moscow Daily Photo blog about two month ago I did not realise I will be so interested. In two ways. To  popularize my lovely city (and I became hooked by the idea, bought new camera, study city history, etc). And to see everyday reports of normal people from around the world, become friends with that people, enjoy their talent and creativity.
But painting is not forgotten.
This quick sketch is inspired by Jarart's Prescott Daily Photo, my hands started looking for brush, when I saw this watercolorly photo.
In Russia they say the painting from photo is rubbish . I do not care. Photo awakes my creativity. Viva la photo!

January 5, 2010

Georgia



Uplistsikhe Cave town, Georgia. First mentioned in II - I millenium B.C. More info here  and here and photos here. Mystic place. I was lucky to get there in the fog. Unforgetable feeling of history around you and natural beauty.


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