Category: Cheap Joes

Day 144 Paris Barges

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Nothing better than walking by the Seine in Paris passing the barges under the fabulous bridges, Pont Alexander, and by such landmarks as Les Invalides and my fav – le tour Eiffel aka the Eiffel Tower.

Vlads picture

A wild paintalong with Vlad. I bet his wife, his manager, has to wear track shoes to chase him around.

Vlads value sketch.

Seems I forgot to take a pic of my sketch. This is Vlads.

First wash. Almost done.

And the washes are piling up. Pointy brush w Paris grey to the Eiffel Tower and the Pont Alexander.

Sliding toward home. Pulling the masking off the boat lines and a few other whites I wanted to save.

Going to have to fix these lines now the masking gone. Can’t leave them stark white.

Lines

Looking better. Really need to work on softening my lines.

Calling it quits for tonite.

What a difference a few minutes makes in the sky.

Margaret Xoxoxox

Day 143 Giverny 2

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Notice the numbers have gone down. I counted today exactly 143 days since IT started. I had been using Gov Cuomos count. I guess NY started before Ga.

Today I decided to repaint Giverny on different paper with different paint. Paint along with Vladislav Yesileyev. I spent an hour this am talking to a customer service rep at Cheap Joes. Great guy, very helpful, stuck out in the boonies near Boone NC where Cheap Joes is located. We talked each other’s ears off.

The gist of the conversation was I don’t like my cream colored Fabriano rough because it’s c ream colored. Great paper except it’s NOT white. And it takes the brightness away from the watercolor.

Turns out there is Fabriano rough white. Some is wafting it’s way to me as I type.

So I pulled out that annoying arches 140 block. Did I say it’s bright white. Paper may be rotten but it was the right color.

It was taped up ready to Paint. I also used my Fealing Lin palette full of non Chalky Daniel Smith M Graham and lovely Holbein plus A bit of cheap Joes Andrews turquoise and his alizarin permanent.

I think the whole thing is much brighter due to the white paper and the paint. The bottom one is the one from today. Top is the Fabriano cream w Lukas paint.

I should have listened to my friend Mike abt Lukas paint. Best I can say is it’s cheap.

I splattered the flowers while the green was wet like Charles Reid used to do. I may had a bit of pink w some gouache.

I also got better darks w my regular paints than I can ever get w the Lukas.

Wild storm tonite. Power out again. Sigh.

Goodnite all Margaret and Zoe tucked up in bed. Xoxoxo

Day 150 Giverny

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Our brushes lifted over for Giverny Paint along with Vladislav Yesileyev today in Normandie France. One day I hope to go. Giverny closes in October and we cruised by on our Viking longboat in November. We did get to tour Auvers sur L’Oise where Van Gogh lived and painted and finally died-even visiting his attic room where he drew his last breath and the cemetery where he’s buried. The sketch 300lb Fabriano rough

10×15

First wash. Off to the paint brush races.

Sprinting for the finish adding dappled shadows. Watercolors all about thinking light to dark.

Trees have grown zip zip so fast.

Cad yellow and cobalt neutral tint burnt umber.

Done for now though I think it needs more darks. I may resplatter. I wanted Monet pink. I got a red. Hmm and yes I added white gouache to the splatter. Oops.

How cute is this Downey?

Margaret back to her knitting. Xoxoxo

Day 138 Maryland Farm vc

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So far. Was completely worn out when this paint along with Vladislav Yesileyev was done. Already making a list of improvements.

I couldn’t help but think that Frank and Mike on American Pickers would be Gaga over this old army truck. Vlad cracked me up by saying wonder what color this truck used to be. I wanted to say how about army green?!!!😂👍🏻

The photo

The sketch. Half sheet. A major undertaking. Eeek

First wash. Only a few colors cerulean sky neutral tint alizarin dioxzine purple cobalt yellow ochre cad yellow and red cobalt turquoise burnt sienna. That’s about it for now.

Accidently shot the barn up close. Thought u might like a look. Really nothing there is there.

and not done yet. Half sheet Fabriano rough.

Worn out. Had a glass of wine which I do about once a year. Today was the day.

Another way to look at masks. Better to wear and not need than to not wear and need aka be ill.😘

Hugs wear a mask stay safe.

Margaret Xoxoxox

Day 137 Provence

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Suddenly quite Tahred so will make this a short one. May be done. Maybe not. Lol. BUT a BIG improvement over the last time I did rooftops. Paint alongs with Vladislav Yesileyev. 300 # Fabriano rough Those were a disaster well comparatively speaking

The Eglise somewhere en Provence

Vlad did the value sketch. He knew this one was going to keep us busy.

The sketch. Talk about a pain. Following all those roof tops trying to be sure to get them all in.

First washes. Mine got a little runny because I used my kolinsky sable which holds much more water than the Escobar sables do.

One more time before we go.

Vlads always saying something funny that tickles me. This was one today. Scribbled on my color test scrap.

Margaret reading to watch Grantchester. Hope I stay awake that long. Feeling the zzz.

Day 133 Really Calling It Done

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I worked on making the people walk in different directions. I think they look better now. Added a lot darks. A few more lamp posts. A flag. Darkened the church towers. Lots of darks. And a few highlights.

Paint alongs with Vladislav Yesileyev

Got this lovely treat Paris in The Rain by Vlad Yesilesev in the mail today. When I looked at it I realized I needed to go a lot darker with my blacks. And whiter w my whites so today I cheated and used masking fluid to reserve some whites.

Margaret Xoxoxox worn out from speed painting.

Day 126 Two pages left

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Til I finish this sketchbook. Got another waiting!!

Koosje was drawing trees on draw too Tuesday but pouring rain here so NOPE not happening. However this wandered in the house attached to a very wet Amazon delivery. So I tossed it on the floor for a birds eye view and got out my new box of 12 carat d’ache neocolor ii watercolor crayons, always fun to draw with.

Here it is before I wet them and embellished them.

Then I wet this one down and worked on the glass I bit. Better?? Maybe.

Margaret ready for bed. Xoxoxox

Day 125 – works in progress?!!

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Well maybe. Table Clutter. I thought this was done til I looked at the glass. Def needs something but on the whole I like the rest of it a lot. Before U worry I have IT, I don’t. Just allergic to myself in a good day. Kerchoo.

Namiki Fude pen watercolor pencils

I think Z looks oh so much better colored don’t you?! Watercolor pencils. That cad orange really has some zing to it.

Margaret sad because I just heard one of my fav watercolor teachers has Covid. Be careful wear a mask stay out of large crowds. Wash your hands. Stay off of beaches!!

Xoxoxox

Day 118 Quayside in Croatia

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with Vlad Yesilesev on a paint along today. Paint and paint brushes flying.

Maybe done. Think so. Quarter sheet 300# fabriano rough aka 11×14″ Dont we wish we could hop on a jet and go there??!

The photo

Sketch with first washes. Yellow ochre cobalt blue and alizarin

Sorry for the blurry pic. I tried to unblur but nope. Not working.

Lots of white gouache highlights. Masts and other dark lines done with the saber brush. I should have blotted it more. An interesting way to spend the afternoon.

All in all I like it.

Margaret Xoxoxox

Day 114 Excitement

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My painting Gypsy is posted in the virtual exhibit from the Transparent Watercolor Show of America. No prize but some really famous watercolor painters didn’t get one either. Exciting just to be in it.

Some gorgeous paintings. You won’t see more beautiful watercolors anywhere. Sometimes I impress myself. I am in a show with John Salminen and Ted Nuttall. OMG!!

And Linda Baker the pourer from Charleston aka she only pours her watercolor painting. Messy messy but gorgeous. Dean Mitchell. I am in top company. All of these people get to teach at Cheap Joes. Hmmm. Brenda Swenson is another one.

Margaret who better go to sleep. She has to be up early. Xoxoxo

Here’s the link if you want to look.