Breakwater, and an updated materials page
Posted: June 18, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized 15 CommentsThe overcast weather and nearly still water on Lac St. Louis were ideal conditions for painting the breakwater at the Pointe Claire Yacht Club this morning. Later in the day, while waiting for a friend to visit (yes, we can do that now!!) I started reading “E. J. Hughes Paints Vancouver Island“. I had never heard of this Canadian painter until receiving the book from my son a few years ago, and it’s a pleasure to learn about him and see how he painted his West Coast surroundings in oil, acrylic and watercolour. The book also includes lots of pencil drawings and studies he made for his paintings. There’s a spread in the book titled “Painting Technology”. So far, my favourite quote from the section is this one:
“Watercolours are a good test in getting things right the first time,” Hughes wrote to his sister Zoë on March 5, 1974, “as changes can only be made in darker and duller direction, and as you probably know from experience, in order to change a transparent watercolour in a paler and brighter direction, an artist faces a near impossibility, resulting in fuzzy edges. However, watercolours depend a great deal on happy accident for results.”
As for my own painting technology, I finally updated my Art Materials page to include my most recent studio and plein air materials, as well as a new section on gouache. Have a look here.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Shari, I’ve always thought this, but I don’t tell you often enough: You do have quite a talent. Amitiés.
LikeLike
Michelle, merci!! Hope you guys are doing well!
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing all your supply info. All those colors in your small box, well that’s amazing. Loved the lake painting especially the ripples in the lake. I just can’t get that
LikeLike
I’m glad the list was useful for you Donna. Yes, all those colours in that small box! It looks so good when I fill it up. Of course it gets kinda messy after a few days of sketching!
LikeLike
Thanks for the supply list update.
LikeLike
Glad it was helpful Nancy.
LikeLike
I also want to thank you for the updated material list. And your painting is lovely. The water is fascinating. Can feel the movement.
LikeLike
Thanks Judy. I’m glad it was helpful.
LikeLike
Hi Shari – no accidents here – lovely! Plus, you can really feel the “grey” mood of the weather.
Thanks very much for your updated materials list – so helpful.
I’ve been eyeing the cup easel since you started using it – I love its seeming simplicity. I also just received 17 tubes of W/N designer gouache for my birthday. Funny how strange it is getting used to new paints – they’re so creamy but it’s going to take some time to understand the colours after five months of a $12 Talens set – LOL.
Enjoy these lovely summer days! Mary (TO)
LikeLike
Wow, Mary, you are going to have a blast with all those new tubes. Now you need to buy yourself the gift of the cup easel. And just think, you will be supporting a young Canadian entrepreneur in the process! Glad you liked the materials list too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So beautiful, Shari. You captured the gray mood of the day perfectly and yet managed to keep the water so luminous and clear. Pewey Louis is no more.
LikeLike
Thanks! I love grey, windless days for that. Perfect for reflections.
LikeLike
Hey Shari – I couldn’t read the labels on some of the paint tubes, do you have a list with the color and associated brand?
LikeLike
Hi Laurie. I think most of these are very legible. If there are a few you really can’t read, let me know which photo and which row and I can let you know. Hope that helps.
LikeLike
What a great little island for a subject. Great reflections!
LikeLike