Sunny still life on watercolor canvas
Sunny still life is a painting which I started on January 1, 2013. I got busy, and this canvas was collecting dust (literally, it was hard to get rid of it) until now. The other day, I was going through different pictures and thought: why not to finish up this still life? “Sunny still life” was intended to be painted in pastel. I had painted two smaller pastels on canvas from the same set-up in my studio, and everybody liked them and later bought. I used watercolor for the base layer. However, this isn’t a watercolor paper. It is watercolor canvas.
What is watercolor canvas?
Watercolor canvas is supposed to be a surface which accepts watercolor paint. In reality, it doesn’t. Paint comes off extremely easily, and it doesn’t stay on. I can lift paint, but to get more of it on, is not going to happen using regular technique. I bought this watercolor canvas exactly 8 years ago. My hope was I could use it for watercolor and then hang without a frame. Frames are always a problem, and they become an issue when one has very many paintings.
Getting realistic image on watercolor canvas
Watercolor canvas is very difficult with somewhat realistic image since we get only one attempt in covering an area. I think it would work when pouring on very thick watercolor paint, but there is nothing much of a thin layer. I still decided to complete this painting. The truth is, I feel obligated to finish all paintings I have started. I don’t know if they still sell watercolor canvas, but this was the only one I ever bought. Thick watercolor paper is so much better for realistic paintings, but it needs a frame, unfortunately.
Excellent quality paints
After lots of attempts cheating paint onto canvas, I got somewhat saturated colors. This painting is 24 x 20 inches or 61 x 51 cm. I always paint around edges, just like with any painting on canvas. I could accomplish this because I use pigment-rich watercolor paints. I use St. Petersburg watercolor paints, and I’m absolutely happy with them. Over years, I have tried most brands, and I must admit, nothing on the market compares to St. Petersburg paints.
I think the mood is really sunny, and therefore, the title of this painting is also “Sunny still life”. This is how the painting process and experiments started: Experimenting with surface and medium
Other than that, I am preparing materials for online art classes and my watercolor painting book. It is a very lengthy and time-consuming process. At least for me. I am a bit slow because there is so much to do in the garden.
Stay healthy, purchase some art. Many people are doing really well during these COVID-19 times.
A beautiful picture! Love the elements (?), the shapes and the colors. The arcs.
Thanks very much! I think, too, colors came out very appealing. This green is green gold from St. Petersburg watercolors. Blue is a mix of 3 different shades.
I do like the blue particularly. Yes, colors are wonderful.
Thank you! Especially, taking into account how difficult it was to get the paint and any color for that matter to stick to this canvas. It’s much easier doing that on paper or with acrylic on regular canvas. I appreciate your nice comments!
Beautiful painting!!! Glad you finished it!! I do a lot of watercolor painting but have never tried a watercolor canvas. I checked and they do still make them. I may have to try a small one just to see how it is. Thanks for sharing this post!!
Thanks Maria! I tried in later years to stretch watercolor paper over bars and that worked actually much better. It’s just quite a lot of work.
If you are more in abstracts, watercolor canvas will work fine. You have to count on the fact that you can lift paint from any spot very easy, but adding paint back or adding more will be difficult. Every touch swipes off the previous layer, so, you trick paint on.
I would try watercolor canvas again with some abstract floral because it is fun and easy painting.
I’m glad, too, I finished this one because it’s a good painting and it was just laying around and doing nothing.
Gorgeous! You are very talented. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your work. Thank you for sharing, Inese!
Thanks Victoria!
Well, I’ve been painting for practically 40 years and drawing even longer. I love experimenting. I cannot do oils because I became allergic to them some 30 years ago, but I do drawing, pastels, watercolor, acrylic and very textured acrylic.
There are a few hundred articles on this website. I started it in 2011. Each article shows some art and gives some advice, too. I used my observations and made some discoveries and conclusions since I’ve given numerous workshops and art classes. I hope some image or article will inspire you to try something new.
I learn something new every time I stop by your place. I especially appreciate the cup set amongst the fruit, as if there is someone there just next to the painting. A great way to start a fresh new week!
That is fantastic!
Over years, I think I have tried everything. I even thought now maybe get more watercolor canvas, this I bought 12 years ago. I was stretching watercolor paper over bars, too, just to avoid framing. Lots of work.
I was one of the first, who started large textured acrylic paintings way back when I just moved over to Canada. Many people are doing texture now, but somehow my paintings went unnoticed in 2008-2010. I’m glad they have published my article in the local Artscene. It is from this blog.
Thanks very much for the nice comment and I am happy you can learn something new all the time.
Amazing! I’d like to eat the fruits as they look like real 🙂
Thanks Vika!
I love still life. I have painted literally many hundreds of still life paintings over years. Some are on this website, too.
Most of my paintings are drawing-based and I became very good with drawing. I started early, more than 50 years ago. We didn’t have cameras over there in Latvia those times. We were in the big soviet family until 1991. The first time I had camera was way later, even some 4 years later after I moved to Canada. I don’t need a photo to draw.
That’s why I draw things which are around the house and still life suits this purpose very well.
This was an experiment with canvas and watercolor. It is a special canvas, not the regular one. It was very difficult, indeed, to make paint sit where I wanted it, but I’m very satisfied with the result. I think I will even make more watercolor canvas. The ready-made ones are really expensive, but there are ways to create a watercolor canvas with some extra supplies.
Latvia? Almost neighbors! Except I didn’t move to Canada, stayed to live in the Czech Republic (former Czechoslovakia).
I didn’t know you can paint on canvas with watercolor, even on a special one. I’m still fightig with basic skills, but I’ll keep that on mind for future. Anyway I cannot reach your level of experience, you are a real artist, while I’m just playing with colors 🙂 I’m happy as it is and deeply admire the beauty, you put into your paintings!
I know where Czech Republic is, we used to travel around Europe once borders were open.
By nowadays standards, anything is art and everybody is artist. I’m old school, and I definitely would disagree with that.
However, your paintings are good and fine and I liked them.
We work out the direction we want to go over time, it happens on its own. I rarely watch other artists’ work, I don’t want to be influenced. I did that when I just arrived here, back in 2004. It takes away from personal style, and we are the best with what comes from us personally.
Over years, I have painted everything from portraits to still life. In fact, I helped myself financially, drawing portraits during university. I also love everything natural and gardening, so, my subject is what I have or have seen. Let’s say, I don’t paint mountains, I have never been long enough watching them in order to learn what they tell me. I prefer whenever possible to use my sketch or my drawing, or in the best case the real thing.
Thanks very much for your nice comment! Your works are very attractive and it is fantastic to have drawing and painting in our life.
Dear Inese, absolutely agree what you said about the “old school”. That’s why I cannot call myself an artist. Your path as artist is long and strong, gradually grew up from childhood. I can imagine that financial help during university was also important step on your artist’s path. I believe, that only trying various sides of apple could help us discover its essential core. Hope you understand 🙂
I also love to look at natural, even simple things. They usually bring emotion and impulse to my creative mind. Hopefully I’ll put them on paper more often.
Thanks you consider my “art” attractive, i really appreciate. Absolutely agree with you, that having drawing and painting in life is fantastic! 🙂
I liked the various sides of apple to discover the core. That’s exactly it.
When we talk art nowadays, you’re absolutely an artist.
Don’t believe me? Type in whatever subject’s description in Google images, and you will see how much is in fashion child-like, flat, no volume, practically no skill art. Digital art is not always specified as digital, there are also lots of Vector images, etc.
I mean with that, that handmade art has lost any standards it ever had.
Your art is great and full of meaning, too.
Since I’m also from Europe originally, I pay attention to emotional side of painting, as opposed to technical perfection as we can see in photorealistic North American art frequently.
There are only 2 styles in demand in Canada” tight realism and complete abstraction. Therefore, I’m totally of the mainstream since I don’t like either of these styles.
Anyway, theories aside, art is just the best way of self expression.
Thank you, Inese! You are right, emocional self expression is an important part of my drawing and painting 🙂
I believe emotional aspect should be always included in whatever we create and it most likely is.