While everyone is napping
Posted: August 31, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized 10 CommentsIt’s a sleepy day in Montreal — grey and rainy. Good time for some watercolour practice.
I love working in monochrome, and I figured that a grey day would be perfect time for some value studies using a tube of Payne’s Grey from Stephen Quiller that’s been sitting unused in my paint drawer. It’s a lovely granulating pigment and perfect for painting these studies of scenes I saw in France this year and last.
When I paint these studies I try not to do too much drawing. I’m not focusing on the details, but rather the larger value shapes. If ever these become larger paintings, the studies will come in handy. If you’re thinking of trying some of these when you have a rainy day at home and everyone but you is napping, use the biggest brush you have so you don’t get caught up in details. I used a 3/8″ Red Dot dagger from Rosemary Brushes, which is good for holding a lot of wash as well as getting the pointy shapes I wanted.
Thanks for sharing these. It’s a sunny warm day on Cape Cod. I enjoyed the drawings of your dog yesterday, I wondered how she was.
I enjoy the monochrome paintings – doing them and looking at them like yours. Thanks for the “reminder” to do it more often. Thanks, Shari!
Really nice work to see on a rainy day.
Who doesn’t love a mysterious passageway that contrasts both the view and the light in one fell swoop? I have always had a soft spot for payne’s grey – so versatile!
Thx for today’s sketches – they brightened my day 🙂
Thanks Chris. Exactly! Who doesn’t love a mysterious passageway!!
Thanks for reminding us of how beautiful grey can be!
David, thanks for having a look!
Thank you for this post, Shari! I’m finding that value is everything. Wondering what size Rosemary dagger and what size was the paper you did the 3 paintings on.❤️
Hi Pat,
Glad you agree about value. The paper size is about 7 x 10 “, but the actual sketches are about 6 x 9. As for the brush, it’s a 3/8” size. Lovely little brush.
Shari
I like how you eliminated a lot of the extra details in these.
Perhaps this wonderful monochrome scene could give you an idea for an upcoming online course in values. I want to try a painting in my sketchbook based on your study. I love it. Thanks for sharing.