Somewhere in Mexico
Posted: April 18, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized 22 CommentsI went to a colourful place today. Way back to the last day in January when I was leaving San Miguel de Allende. From my window seat in the van on the long ride to the airport, I snapped lots of photos. I like the randomness of some of these compositions, and I go back to these occasionally to see if any of them merit a sketch or possibly a larger painting.
I guess I’ve been thinking about this one for a while, because the planning was done some time ago. In fact it was on a flight to Savannah in March when I remembered that I had the photo on my iPad and a sketchbook in my bag, and lots of time to think about composition and colour. I even made a note about values and glad I did because it came in handy when I was painting today. Painted on Fabriano CP 140 lb, 15″ x 11″.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
beautiful work
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like how you toned down the colors from the original sketch, but still stayed true to the rusts and blues of the buildings. Lovely!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I went to a colourful place today
.I even made a note
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your palette and how you use gray. I hope to take a workshop with you one day!
LikeLike
And I hope to be giving them again one day. In person!
LikeLike
Wow….lovely sky and great colors in the composition! Very nice. I think the sky steals the show… for me. It’s a winner.
LikeLike
thanks Bernadette!
LikeLike
Beautiful! Thanks!
LikeLike
Thank YOU!
LikeLike
Very nice!
I don’t think you are a sketchers anymore !
LikeLike
Thanks so much Carlos!
LikeLike
Good Evening dear friend Shari,
What an amazing sketch I found.
I love that lighting, shading and shadow.
Your proficiency in this art is witnessed from the way you water colored the road and footpath so natural showing the uneven layout skillfully.
The buildings and other structures and the choice of the colors are extremely natural and pleasant.
Wonderful job as usual.
Blessings
Uma
.
LikeLike
Thank you so much Uma, for taking the time to have a look.
LikeLike
I’ve been working back through your blog posts, Shari, (now in April 2017), and was thinking that you hadn’t done any larger watercolors on “real” watercolor paper in awhile. Then I open your recent post and see SOMEWHERE IN MEXICO! MASTERFULL! Also wanted you to know that I recently got a copy of WORKING WITH COLOR, and am enjoying all the nuggets of knowledge contained therein! I’ve been watercolor painting for forty years, and I can still learn a ton in your books and posts! -Barry
LikeLike
Barry, thank you so much for writing because it has given me a chance to discover YOUR work. Absolutely spectacular. The birds are amazing, of course. But the watercolour landscapes are stunning. Your drawing skills, your technique with watercolour, and your sense of composition, wow, top notch. I will be returning to look again, that’s for sure.
As for me, thank you also for going way back and reading the posts. I hope you have lots of time because there are many!
And yes, I haven’t painted a full watercolour in a long time, you are right about that. I was so busy reinventing myself with video tutorials that I had no time to paint. But that has been launched and I should have more time to paint now! Thanks again for taking the time to write.
LikeLike
Thanks, Shari, and thanks for checking out my work. Your encouraging words mean a lot – especially coming from the likes of YOU! Us “old dogs” can fall into ruts, especially with the location work – where so much CAN, and often DOES go wrong! I’ll often find myself overusing things I know will work, rather than trying something new. I admire how you are always trying new materials and approaches, constantly tweaking your palette, etc. I need a KICK now and then, and your blog and books DO THAT! Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? -barry
LikeLike
Wow! I feel like I’m standing right there. And the sky is just amazing!
LikeLike
Thanks so much Iona!
LikeLike
This is a real masterwork!
LikeLike
I haven’t painted in a long time. It felt great to get out the big brushes and some good paper!
LikeLike
Gorgeous, love the sky!!! Especially after another rainy day here.
LikeLike
thanks so much Rosemary.
LikeLike