Child Watercolor Painting Process "Boy Reaching" - Continued

CAUTION !!!
You are about to see a painting in its adolescent stage! Beware! You will be seeing the good, the bad, and the ugly! View at your own risk! Hope that you enjoy seeing this daunting process.

 

 

Once I decided on the portion of the photo that would be most effective for this painting, I lightly sketched in the important details. Now I take the plunge and put paintbrush to paper.

 

I started by lightly painting in the background and the boy to get a sense of the colors I would be using. Next, I started on the tile floor. Here, I used richer colors that will eventually be toned down.

 

 

Still in the preliminary process, I start to refine the hair, shirt, pants, and sneakers, as well as lay in some turquoise for the beginning of the copper patina on the drinking fountain.



 

Here's where it starts getting UGLY! I'm laying in colors for the stone wall with its green algae.

 

As you might have guessed by now, I am very slow and deliberate in my painting process. It takes me a long time to complete a watercolor to my satisfaction. At this point, I am nowhere near being done. Once all of the colors are "in," the refining begins. There must be "dark darks" and very "light lights" to make the painting have depth. Once these "values" are established, I can attend to the most difficult and time-consuming part, adding all of the minute details.

 

Can't wait to hear from you!

 

 

Linked to Watercolors by Barbara Etsy Shop, Watercolors By Barbara Website, Fine Art America, IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, BoogieboardCottage, Alphabe-Thursday, Join the Party {Linky}  Fall into Fall, and Pink Saturday, Five Days Five Ways, Friday Flair Linky Party, Friday Favs, Fancy These Friday’s, Friday Link Party, Saturday Show & Tell

 

 

New Adventure Watercolor Painting Process "Boy Reaching"

Thanks so much for sending in photos! I can still accept a few more for this New Adventure Series.

As promised, I am using photos that were sent in to create a series of special childhood memories. The photo should show your child or grandchild looking away from the camera and into the new place they've found to play in and explore.

My end of the bargain is to share the entire process with you! There is absolutely NO obligation to buy.

Here is the first of the photos. As you can see, the little boy is absolutely adorable! Even though he is too short to take a drink from the fountain, he has fun reaching up into it!

Once I saw the potential for a painting in this series, I cropped the photo to make it a more interesting composition and focus on the child.

 

 

The next step is to start a drawing that includes all of the essential details. As you can see, the lines are very light, so that they don't show through the transparent watercolors too much.

 

 

I look forward to sharing the next stages in this process with you! If you have any questions at all about this process, I'd love to answer them.

 

Linked to Watercolors by Barbara Etsy Shop, Watercolors By Barbara Website, Fine Art America, IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, BoogieboardCottage, Alphabe-Thursday, Join the Party {Linky}  Fall into Fall, and Pink Saturday, Five Days Five Ways, Friday Flair Linky Party, Friday Favs, Fancy These Friday’s, Friday Link Party, Saturday Show & Tell



 

Beach Girl Friends Seashore Painting

"Beach Girls"

What could be better than girls having fun together at the beach, especially if they are best friends, sisters, twins! Here, they are delightedly looking at the seagulls, toes tickled by the foamy surf! 

This watercolor painting turned out to be an accidental commission. When I was at an Art Fair, I spotted absolutely adorable twins. I asked their mother if I could take a photo of her children. I was so brazen about asking because I love to paint kids! She agreed and I told her that I would send her an email of the finished painting. ...and the end of the story is that she loved it, wanted the original, as well as matted fine art prints for other family members!

When I looked at the photo, I decided to set the scene at the powder white sands and emerald waters of a Florida beach. It's so much fun to let your imagination soar and not stick to the reality of a photo!

 

I started with a sketch of the twins, but moved them apart. Next came the sky and beginnings of the water, surf, hair and skin.

Adding waves, refining clouds, deepening the color of the water, putting in the shadows of the blouses came next.

When I started to paint the skirt stripes, I decided that the original colors in the photo were too close to the colors in the water. I wanted drama and fun! I started with pale purple and a hot pink, but felt that deep purple and bright red would work better. The wave on the back right was really starting to bother me. I think that I mostly paint from my gut, not my head. But I just couldn't let go of the fact that I hated that wave, even if I could balance it with others on the left side of the painting. I tried to stop thinking about that wave by adding the three seagulls that the girls were looking at.

 'Couldn't stand it anymore. Out went that wave! I felt much better and then worked on making the emerald waters darker at the horizon to give it depth, refining the hair and skin color, correcting the left leg of the right girl, adding the purple hair clip, deepening the colors of the stripes, darkening the shadows of the clothing, and creating the children's reflections. Done!

I spent so much time on this painting, that I have come to love those little girls. As you might have guessed, I have no grandchildren yet! I had a hard time parting with it, but knew that the family would cherish it. I do have 15 fine art prints that I've made and one will be framed for my home!

I hope that you've enjoyed "listening in" on the decisions I made during my creative process. I'd love to hear from you!!

Size

Art Print 8x10 /mat 11x14 $37.00 USD Art Print 11x14 /mat 16x20 $52.00 USD

 Linked to Watercolors by Barbara Etsy Shop, Watercolors By Barbara Website, Fine Art America, Alphabe-Thursday, Fall into Fall, and Pink Saturday   

Beach Girl & Red Shovel - New Watercolor Painting

"Beach Girl with Red Shovel"

Deep in concentration, this little girl is intent on creating the perfect sand castle, ignoring all around her, even the crashing nearby waves! This fine art print of my original watercolor painting will bring back memories of family beach vacations and brighten up your child's room. It's also perfect for your vaction home decor.

Linked to Watercolors by Barbara Etsy Shop, Watercolors By Barbara Website, Fine Art America, Alphabe-Thursday, Fall into Fall, and Pink Saturday 

Can't Stop! New Painting - "Basketball Player 2"

I just can't stop! Many times, I get inspiration and suggestions from my art customers. Here is the latest in my series of unique sports figures, a female basketball player. These action paintings are experimental explorations into color and form. Not created by any other artist, these colorful paintings that make great gifts for that special sports enthusiast in your life!

Basketball Player 2

 

Linked to Watercolors by Barbara Etsy Shop, Watercolors By Barbara Website, Handmade Tuesdays, Tell Me Tuesdays, Alphabe-Thursday, Fall into Fall, Potpourri Friday, Pink Saturday 



 

BEACH GIRL WITH POLKA DOTS - New Painting

I just don't know what it is. Walking the beach, I love seeing children playing. I don’t know if it’s because it brings back wonderful, warm memories of my own childhood or those happy days with my kids.
I hope that you enjoy my newest painting.

Beach Girl with Polka Dots

Fine Art Print of Original Watercolor Painting

by Barbara Rosenzweig

 

Linked to Watercolors by Barbara Etsy Shop, Watercolors By Barbara Website, Handmade Tuesdays, Alphabe-Thursday, Potpourri Friday, Pink Saturday 

NEW PAINTING - LITTLE GIRL WITH CHEEKS OF TAN!

"Beach Girl with Big Hat and Polka Dots"

by Barbara Rosenzweig

As soon as I saw her, I knew that I had to capture this adorable little girl trying to keep her mom's hat on her head with the strong ocean breeze blowing! ...and I just love polka dots!!

Please let me know what you think of my latest watercolor painting. Does she remind you of anyone you know?

Website: http://www.WatercolorsByBarbara.com/

Etsy: http://BarbaraRosenzweig.etsy.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/barbrosenzweig/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WatercolorsByBarbara

Posted by Barbara Rosenzweig

Linked to Share the Love Wednesday, Handmade Tuesdays, Alphabe-Thursday, Fabulous Friday,

GIRL INTO THE SURF

GIRL INTO THE SURF

My wonderful scene shows the pure girlish delight at being on the beach. I tried to capture this child's independent strut into the surf to fill her bucket! Can you smell the salt air, hear the surf, and feel the sand between your toes?

Linking to Tell Me Tuesdays, Handmade Tuesdays, Share the Love Wednesday, Wow Us Wednesdays, Fall into Fall, Primp Your Stuff Wednesday, Fabulous Friday

Christmas at the Beach
"I am in Colorado, looking out the window at a foot of snow and its still snowing! I am longing for warmer weather and the beach. If only I could spend Christmas at the beach this year...," says Dawn Hitchcock from DawnHitchcock . My watercolor "Girl into the Surf" looks right at home here!

BALLOON FANTASY

BALLOON FANTASY

Balloons always fascinate, especially if you are a child. Wonder and fun, that's what I tried to capture in this fine art reproduction of my original oil painting. Although it's not a watercolor, like most of my work, this oil painitng is a true expression of childhood joy in any artistic medium.

Linked to Handmade Tuesdays, Share the Love Wednesday, Wow Us Wednesday, Fall into Fall, Primp Your Stuff Wednesday

BEACH BABY - NEW PAINTING

BEACH BABY

This adorable baby was mesmerized by the ocean waves and had no fear as the surf rolled across the beach. This fine art reproduction of my original watercolor painting will brighten up a child's room or a home at the shore! Remember family vacations at the beach?

Linked to Potpourri Friday 2805, Fabulous Friday, Motivational Monday, Motivate Me Monday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Life as this Mommy knows It, Tell Me Tuesday, Handmade Tuesday, Share the Love Wednesday, Wow Us Wednesdays, Fall into Fall, Primp Your Stuff Wednesday, Wordish Wednesday, Alphabe-Thursday

GIRL INTO THE SURF WATERCOLOR PAINTING

GIRL INTO THE SURF

by Barbara Rosenzweig

My wonderful scene shows the pure girlish delight at being on the beach. I tried to capture this child's independent strut into the surf to fill her bucket! Can you smell the salt air, hear the surf, and feel the sand between your toes?

Beach House Finds

Curator Jennifer Seward from bluewaveglass selected wonderful items for this collection! Check them out.

GIRL INTO THE SURF

"Girl into the Surf"

Limited Edition Fine Art Reproduction

by Barbara Rosenzweig

My wonderful scene shows the pure girlish delight at being on the beach. I tried to capture her independent strut into the surf to fill her bucket! Can you smell the salt air, hear the surf, and feel the sand between your toes?

This painting will brighten up your child's room or a home at the shore and is the perfect companion piece to my "Boy into the Surf!"

EtsyLush Art Collection - well mostly art!
"100 % Etsy Lush Team - some beautiful items I discovered on my browse through Etsy Lush members! (http://www.etsylush.com/) I just love art and all the feelings it can invoke when looked upon...enjoy being taken to many different places with this treasury," says Curator Eric Kincaid of EricKincaid of his collection. I'm honored that my "Girl into the Surf" is in this beautifully colorful treasury!

DOWN BY THE SEA....

"Girl into the Surf"

Watercolor Sea Shore Limited Edition Art Print

By Artist Barbara Rosenzweig

My wonderful scene shows the pure girlish delight at being on the beach. I tried to capture her independent strut into the surf to fill her bucket! This painting will brighten up your child's room or a home at the shore and is the perfect companion piece to my "Boy into the Surf!"

Linked to Alphabe-Thursday and Market-Your-Biz-Giveaways-Blog-Party.

Take Me to the Beach
Curator Heidi of heidibg selected these colorful gift items, including my Girl into the Surf painting! Check out these wonderful cloths, paintings, and beach gear!


Summer Breeze
"White, Blue, and Red. Water and Fire. Enjoy:-)" says Curator Shoshi Nahmany of shusha64 of her wonderful selections. My "Girl into the Surf" with her bright blue bathing suit and red bucket fits right in with this summer breeze collection of handmade gifts.


EtsyLush Hits the Beach
Curator Laura Lee of scattyartist features a wonderful mix of handmade items and fine art for our EtsyLush team. My Little "Girl into the Surf" is comfortable among beautifully colored items of red and aqua.


Down By The Sea
"There is nothing better than a summer day down by the Sea.....," says Curator Jill of MaggyBeHappy of her terrific collection. I love seeing "my little girl" among these great gift items.