The Magic of Watercolour Transitions
Hey there, fellow art enthusiasts! Today, I want to share something truly special with you – a journey through the world of my signature course Watercolour Transitions and how I use what I teach on a daily bases when painting my own florals. It's not just about creating beautiful art; it's about understanding and navigating through the process of finding your artistic voice, your unique expression in the world of creativity.
In Watercolour Transitions course, I have a 7-step process that I personally use and love to share with my students. It's a path towards self-awareness, intuition, and ultimately, elevating your creativity to new heights.
Let's dive right into the process as I show you an example of how I use this process to help me every day.
The 7 step process
combine your intuition and knowledge to help you find your artisitc style.
Step One: The Spark
It all begins with a spark, that undeniable urge to create. Don't ignore it; embrace it! Reach for your paints, let your imagination run wild, and channel your energy into creating. Think about what it is that has inspired you, it could be a field of flowers or your favourite flower photographed by your favourite photographer. For me, I knew I wanted to paint on some coloured mixed media paper which made me feel very excited!
Step Two: Seek Inspiration, Not Imitation
Inspiration is all around us, waiting to be discovered. I'll show you how to find it without resorting to copying. It's about observing the world with fresh eyes and infusing your unique perspective into your art. I show you how to look at your inspiration, break it down and pick apart the things you want to try and capture in your painting. Here are the inspirations I used in my painting.
(Bottom right Madison Hartley. Instagram - @hart_floral Top right Rachel Wardley. Instagram - @Tallulahroseflowerschool Top left Laurel Daily Instagram @laureldailey Bottom left (my own image) )
Step Three: Confidence in Your Tools
To truly master the art of watercolour, you need to be comfortable with your tools. I'll guide you through the world of professional tools, sharing my favourites and helping you choose the ones that resonate with you. This took me A LOT of trial and error but that is exactly what you don’t need to worry about with this course.
Step Four: Explore Endless Possibilities
Watercolour is incredibly versatile, offering a variety of ways to paint. I'll provide you with a technique toolkit and teach you how to capture the essence of your subjects. You'll be amazed by the range of affects you can achieve! In my case I made the decisions on how I wanted to paint, the way I chose to apply paint to paper, and the techniques I wanted to use.
Step Five: Follow Your Intuition
This step is all about letting go and allowing your intuition to guide you. Make those playful marks on the paper in a way that feels right to you. It's about expressing yourself authentically through your art. Your intuition is a muscle that needs to be worked. I do this by journalling every day, this helps me connect to myself on a much deeper level and my intuitive voice is heard. When you are able to connect with your intuition you’re creative decision making becomes more aligned with who you really are. In my case I dove straight into and painted this arrangement without much planning or thought, allowing my intuition to guide the way.
Step Six: Reflect and Dissect with Kindness
Reflection is key to growth. Take a moment to ponder what felt good during the process and what didn't. Learn to dissect your painting gently, without self-criticism. Use your newfound knowledge and skills to appreciate the progress you've made and know that the painting you have just created is a stepping stone to your best work.
Here are my reflections on this painting.
1- I may have used too many images for inspiration, trying to be inspired to too many images without giving myself enough of a canvas to paint and capture everything I see.
2- It lacked balance and negative space but I love painting those long strangely golden leave.
3- The eye didn’t take you from one flower to another because of the above points. There was also no clear focal point in the painting.
4- Some of the leaves and flowers lacked definition and merged into one. Every feature of this painting seemed to be fighting for attention
Step Seven: Refine and Evolve
In the final step, refine your paintings based on what feels right to you and what you've learned. Your second attempt will likely yield better and more pleasing results. These transitional paintings will bring you closer to discovering your authentic style.
Here is the decisions I made second time around
1- More negative space
2- An intentional and mindful placement of flowers
3- I chose 3 features to stand out as focal points
And above is my second attempt.
And just like that, we're back to Step One, ready for the next burst of creative inspiration.
Watercolour Transitions, for me, is a way to teach you the "how" and present the endless possibilities of watercolour painting. It's a journey that helps you navigate the waters of watercolour until you slowly start to uncover your artistic style.
The beauty of this process lies in YOU and your willingness to combine your newfound knowledge with what your heart tells you, and I am here as your helping hand.
So, why should you consider Watercolour Transitions? Here are a few compelling reasons:
1. Self-Discovery: It's a path towards discovering your unique artistic voice. Watercolour transitions encourage you to explore and express yourself authentically.
2. Confidence Building: As you become more familiar with the techniques and tools, your confidence as an artist naturally grows. It's a journey of self-assuredness.
3. Continuous Improvement: Reflection and refinement are at the core of this process. It's about getting better with each painting, evolving as an artist, and moving closer to your authentic style.
4. Joyful Creativity: It's a process that allows you to create with joy and intuition, free from self-doubt and negativity.
In conclusion, Watercolour Transitions is a beautiful way to embark on your artistic journey or enhance your existing skills. It's about more than just paint on paper; it's about self-discovery, creativity, and the joy of bringing your inner world to life on canvas. So, don't hesitate to explore this wonderful world of Watercolour Transitions – you may just find your artistic voice along the way.
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Happy painting!
