PAINTING EN PLEIN AIR

VILLA IL VENTAGLIO FIRENZE

This year has started with many pleasant news regarding arts. 

First of all my work was selected to Fabriano in Italy, 

but I will tell you more about that in another post, maybe with some photos...

Then my friend Natus had the brilliant idea 

to create a group of

watercolour painters in Florence. 

We meet regularly to paint together in different places of the city 

- urban locations - we've met in Fiesole, P.zza Santo Spirito or -

 as in this case - in a garden, Villa il Ventaglio.

Such a lovely day!

It's a great occasion of sharing your passion with lovely people.

There are already many of us, and more join every time!

And -

another nice part is when at the end we usually have lunch together!

Changing the colors for a different atmosphere!!

'A corner of Tuscany - red sky' - 28x38 cm Fabriano artistico 300gsm

If you  saw my previous post about the watercolor workshop when I painted the first version of 

 'A Corner of Tuscany', this is the same house... 

As I was waiting for the first painting to dry, I started a new one.

I usually like to change something when I paint a new version, this time I decided for a red sky.

Obviously I also had to change the other colors.

As you can see the tree is purple,

but for the plants in the pots I decided for a cool green shade, 

because I felt that I needed some contrast to all the warm colors.

It's not easy to show all the shades of color in a photo, 

but if you look at both photos you can see how the atmosphere changed!

I'd love to know what you think, which version do you prefer?!

Loose Landscape Painting

A corner of Tuscany - Fattoria Poggiopiano 2016

28x38cm

The last years I have concentrated on loosing up my paintings. 

It has been a lot of work: experimenting, making mistakes...

A lot of fun, 

but also frustrating when you don't achieve satisfying results...

Obviously I started with my favourite subject, florals.

I also aimed to capture the movement of cyclists, in an abstract way (more here).

To get a different approach to landscape painting I attended a one day workshop with  

Italian Watercolor Artist Luciano Boscaini. 

detail   

 It is always interesting to see other artists work and I got practical advice and examples that I also love to share to my students.

For example about soft and hard edges , and letting  color  bleed - like you see on the roof (detail above).

This is something I love to use, AND VERY IMPORTANT when you wish to LOOSEN UP your paintings!

But until you see it from real, you don't really get it!

(I'll prepare a tutorial on this, soon)

He's definitely not for beginners, and also the level of the other participating artists was high!

I had a great time, and actually painted 3 paintings,

- I just can't stop painting, so in order not to overwork, I usually start a new one while the first is drying! -

so I'll prepare  more photos soon!

How to paint a landscape !

28x38 cm A House in Tuscany

As I promised I have a lot of photos for you :

Easy step by step instructions how to paint a watercolor landscape.

-

Come promesso:

Sotto trovi il procedimento passo passo per dipingere un paesaggio con gli acquerelli.

First draw the subject - then start with the lightest colors...

Comincia con il disegno - poi i colori più chiari...

Keep blocking in colors - remember to save some white and lights!

Aggiungi i colori con pochi dettagli -  ricordati di conservare del bianco e dei punti luce!

  Take a break! It's always good to stop for a while ...

 Prenditi una pausa! E sempre bene soffermarsi un attimo...

 - then add the darkest shadows and details!

See the (almost) finished painting on top and let me know if this helped you?!
To see a floral step by step go here or here!

-

- poi le ombre e gli ultimi dettagli più scuri! 

Vedi il dipinto (quasi) finito in alto e fammi sapere se questo ti è stato utile?!
Per vedere come dipingo i fiori vedi qui o qui!

Let's paint more together at Ancora del Chianti EcoBB & Art Retreat in Tuscany !

Painting in Tuscany!

Fabriano artistico watercolor paper 300 gsm 28x38cm

Painting a Tuscan corner ... Such a beautiful place!

-

Un bellissimo angolo di Toscana !

Blocking in the lightest colors... then adding the middle values...

-

La stesura dei primi colori... poi i verdi...

 - and the final details

-

 - gli ultimi ritocchi.

 Ancora del Chianti Eco Friendly BB & Art Retreat in Tuscany
Painting here! -  Ecco dove sono!

Sea, summer and sun! - Sole, mare, estate!

I already published this painting on fb, but I really wanted to write a post as well...

This painting is from a photo, and I really wanted to simplify much more, but was afraid that it wouldn't have been appreciated by the receiver!? It's hard to paint for someone else ... 

Also - it's a beautiful photo - but not mine, so I couldn't put too much emotions into the subject.

Fortunately I love the process, but...
I painted 3 versions before I was happy - How do you handle these situations?

( see previous post on watercolor lessons and  'enjoy painting' here )

Castelsardo, Sardegna 28x35 cm

Ho già pubblicato questo foto su fb, ma volevo anche scrivere un  post...
Dipingere su commissione, da una foto come in questo caso, è sempre difficile...
Avrei voluto semplificare di più, ma avevo paura di non accontentare il committente?!

Inoltre la foto, anche se molto bella, non era mia, quindi non poteva suscitare troppe emozioni in me. Per fortuna dipingere mi diverte sempre, ma -
ho dipinto 3 versioni prima di accontentarmi. Voi come fate in questi casi?!
( leggi  qui  il post precedente su lezioni di pittura e 'divertirsi dipingendo')