January's Guest Artist-Spike Ress

We had a really good turnout for Spike's demo and a really great time learning how he paints his awesome landscapes.  Spike shared his color palette and mixing skills, his layering of colors and his knowledge of his artistry.  We all want to express our Thank You to Spike for enabling us to learn his tried and true methods,  If you would like to
learn more about Spike Ress, please visit his website:  SPIKE

A Review about Painting Water

Painting All Aspects of Water for all Mediums by: E. John Robinson  (available at the Sandy Library)

I’ve only just begun to read the first chapter in this book and I have already fallen in love with the author.  He’s very knowledgeable in the characteristics of water and how it behaves.  I will share with you a few things I have learned about water that I can relate to even though I never studied the qualities of water.

1.      Water is always level on the ground.  It can be diagonal, or vertical in appearance if it is a waterfall or rain runoff.

2.      Water changes it’s physical shape to fit into certain spaces.

3.      Water is a reflecting agent much like a mirror or sheet of glass

4.      Water is often transparent and it can move with gravity

5.      Shallow water of a lake is more transparent than deeper waters of an ocean

6.      The surface of the water reflects a path of light that:  ALWAYS comes towards the viewer.  If it goes off in another direction, it leads the viewer’s eye right out of the painting.

7.      It reflects the colors above and below it depending on how shallow it is

8.      A mirror image reflection:

a.       Carries the colors, values and shapes of the objects it is reflecting

b.      If the object, such as a rock, is slanted, the reflection can be refracted into a different direction

c.       The size of the object equals the reflection on the water, however, you do not measure the objects reflection from the bank of a river, but from the base of the object itself, towards the water.  i.e. a tree measures from the base to the top=3”, the reflection will measure 3” from the base of the object down into the water.  Which basically means; you may only see 1” of the objects reflection.  The other 2” maybe a shadow or nothing at all.

d.      The reflection should be an exact duplicate of the object if the water is completely smooth

9.      A slanted object, such as the hull of a ship, reflects in the opposite direction, but moves towards the viewer.  The water “sees” more of the hull than the viewer, so the reflection will be extended and have more details than what the viewer sees from above.

10.  Rippling water distorts the reflection but is measured exactly the same as “C” above.  However, the refection will be quite different in appearance.  Edges of the reflections become wavy and darker values can begin to mingle with lighter ones.  Strong ripples introduce only the sky and background colors, very little, if any detail.

11.  Extended Reflections or bouncing, choppy water reflections caused by waves in the water, will bounce the reflection on top of the water, but introduce darker sky colors between the waves.  Here the darker values and lighter values can completely reverse or be together creating more interest.

12.  Choppy waters may be in isolated locations or over the entire painting creating lost and found edges which allow the sky color or colors from below the water to mingle, depending on the depth of the water.

13.  The color of an object is nearly identical to the reflection if the water is smooth.  Choppy water can distort the colors quite a bit.  i.e. white becomes a faded, soft yellow in appearance. 

14.  Scattered light dancing over the water creates interest, but a glare is when a wave reflects intense light directly into the viewer’s eye.  It is a concentration of light, not sparkles dancing.  i.e. larger white areas versus a splattered effect.  Reserve white areas to suggest the movement of water in shallower waters.  Especially around rocks, where the water moves in and out and around the base of the rocks.
15.  Water holds the reflected shadows of an object, directly below the object such as boulders and fallen tree trunks.  

Most of this information we already know from experience, but when listed like this, it refreshes our memories.  Hope these notes help you with your painting water in the future.  I will add more notes as I continue reading this wonderful book.  

June Meeting is in Plein Aire

The next Sandy Water Color Guild Meeting will be on Thursday June 19th.  We will meet at the gazebo west of the Sandy Senior Center for Plein Aire Painting and a Pot Luck Dinner. Bring something yummi to share.

Virginia Kimball will be there to give us tips...and  it's getting close to the solstice, so it should stay light enough for us to paint for quite a while. This will be fun, especially since you've all got your new plein aire kits organized (right???)...so let's try it. You might not be comfortable at first, but you'll get the hang of it...and it's surprising how well this exercise will help you understand contrasts of light and dark. 

In July, we take a break. NO MEETING.  Then August 21 we'll start up again.

Colleen Reynolds has a Brusho workshop on Saturday August 23. You can sign up through her website and pay with paypal. (Click her link in the right sidebar) It's simple. If you are going to pay with a check, please bring it to the June meeting. It's so much less work if the checks come in all at once and don't straggle over a couple months time.

We have been asking for help with managing the club. Here are some responsibilities you could volunteer for.

-workshop coordinator

-meeting scheduler

-membership recorder (keeping up contact info)

We'll be discussing this at the next meeting

Check us out on Facebook by typing in Sandy Watercolor Guild in the search section.  Then "Like" us!

 

Photo: Courtesy of Cindy-Draper Park

Spring Fever

It's been so beautiful these past few days it's hard to stay inside and paint, but we had a good turn-out at our Monday afternoon painting group.  We all enjoyed the afternoon and as usual the time ticked by too quickly. 

Speaking of Spring Fever, is anyone interested in getting together for a picnic and paint out at Wheeler Farm?  If so, let me know (Cindy) and we can get something arranged for a weekday afternoon. 

Something New!

You are cordially invited to a local "Paintout", hosted by Maggie Harrison, our esteemed President this Saturday, Jan 11th from 10 AM to Noon.  Maggie is the paintout coordinator for the Utah Watercolor Society along with Linda Flannery.  This Sat. Trolley Square has been selected as the place to paint and while it isn't a busy shopping mall, it is warm and cozy.  Lots of inspiration from the beautiful lobby windows, to the tile floors, window dressing & shelves of shoes.  Come and have some fun, painting, a'pleine air! 
Everyone is meeting on the south side (6th St.) through the double doors inside the lobby.  Bring your paints, paper, brushes, etc. and plan on having a good time! 
Not a member of the UWS-no problem, you are still encouraged to come and join the fun. 

Photo: Courtesy of: Cindy Powell