Conservatory Interior
Posted: August 17, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized 21 Comments »Being inside a greenhouse is a very relaxing way to spend a day — the sound of trickling water along with the tropical flowers and foliage have a very calming effect on the urban sketcher (if you don’t mind a bit of humidity). On the second day of my Montreal workshop students did some beautiful watercolours so it was probably a good thing the threat of rain pushed us indoors. Magically there were no unexpected events and I think everyone had a chance to practice what they learned yesterday. Today we worked on thumbnails and I borrowed a pencil from one of the students for my sketch below. This is done with a black Derwent Inktense which is water-soluble and apparently more vibrant (if you use the coloured versions) than traditional watercolour pencils. I loved the darkness I was able to create when I wet the surface of the paper. Rich, deep black. I may have to get myself one of those!
Beautiful sense of light!
Thanks Gail!
Hi Shari,
AND I am still interested in your before last and last paintings… hum. When you painted the last one, I finally understood. Now the challenge, is… can I do this? We’ll wait and see 
Thank you for a wonderful workshop!
I was at your workshop and it was even better than the last one… the reason being that I am starting to understand what you are explaining to us…. It takes some time to assimilate what we learned in this workshop — thumbnails, values, wash #1, #2, etc., and these last two days seem to have clinched it… even though I fiddled around without doing much. When I look at what I did… nada. It seems I needed to think and assimilate the information more than by doing it.
Tomorrow I am staring this new approach and can’t wait to try it out. BTW, the driving back was fine, I was home at 5:00 pm. Fiou
Jane, I’m so glad you got something out of this. Yes, it does take some time, and some repetition to assimilate all that I am throwing at you. And it’s hard to do something worthwhile in the class but things will certainly click when you work on your own. Especially since you have some good paper now. You need to use at least 140 lb paper to carry a wash with that much water in it. I will be watching to see what you do next.
We had a wonderful time, highly recommend it, sketch every day and you’ll be as good as Shari in NO TIME!! Thanks ever so much!
You are very funny Angie. It was great having you in the class. Maybe we’ll see each other in the spring.
Hi Shari,
What a great workshop! So enjoyable and you offered us so much information .
My goal … contour sketches daily.
I loved the saying that you quoted “Indicate don’t state”..
Thanks again,
Susan
So glad you were in the class Susan. Choose simple subjects and just keep drawing every day.
Shari, you are a truly talented woman, not only your artistic abilities but you are a warm and funny person. Enjoy your school year and hope to paint with you again some time in the future.
Thanks for you kind comments Barbara. It was wonderful having you in the class. I do hope we see each other again.
Hi Shari,
This workshop has made me realize the importance of sketching on location. It does really make a difference to get the feel of motion in your surroundings and as you say to ‘ put yourself in the space’ In order to interpret it on paper. Thank you for a challenging and worthwhile two days.
Careen
Careen, it was great to have you in the class. I am so glad that you enjoyed the workshop and so glad you gave me this great feedback!
Nice one! Great feeling of light shining into the space… and it was interesting to see the thumbnail.
Looks like you and all the girls had a good time. And so, a serious question (for a change)… do you think watercolour as a medium appeals more to women than men? I am also happy to hear comments from any of your workshop attendees.
Hi Ross,
I have attended other workshops (clay workshops)…mostly women.
Maybe women are more open to learning new techniques from other people than men.
I do think there are more women who do watercolour but coincidentally, last night I was looking at award winners and members from both the Canadian and American watercolour societies and the split seemed almost equal. I didn’t count, of course, but there were many men in there.
Thanks again for the wonderful and instructive workshop! As for me, I realized how difficult it is to have the right amount of water so to make a good value range before everything starts to become dull on the paper!
That’s true Mai. It really has a lot to do with the right amount of water and that takes practice. But you are well on your way. Your conservatory painting — the one done outside— was beautiful.
Hi Shari,
Thank you for your generosity, wonderful demos and great quotes! This workshop was fabulous! What I found most impressive was your vision of light conditions. The actual lighting in this location was not as bright, lively or interesting as what you have transformed it into. This painting shimmers with highlights and shadows! Although I didn’t achieve anything close to what you did, I learned a lot and will no longer feel intimidated at thought of painting in public!
Thank you for all that Kathleen. It was so great to meet you and wonderful to have you in the workshop. And part of what gives the shimmer to that painting is an idea I used from your painting, so thanks for that. Have a great start to your school year.
A belated thank you to Shari for a great workshop and to the group for terrific camaraderie. Ditto to all the comments above. Learned lots — now it’s time to practise and enjoy the the medium.
It was really great having you in the workshop Alison and a belated thank you for all your help but mostly for the lunch