Another Orphan

 Have been sorting through my abandoned orphans drawer and picking out pieces to work on. Most of them, as this one is, are from some of my very early watercolour classes. This one is from the fall of 2007.

I was studying with Johnnene Maddison, a wonderful local artist who was instrumental in teaching me the fundamentals of watercolour. Being new to the medium, I often only got the lightest of values down in class with notes taken on how to complete each painting later.

Now watercolours, by nature, dry considerably lighter than when they're first put down. During the week between classes, I'd get out my notes and tackle the midtones. Annnnnd that would be as far as I would get. I was so fearful at the time of ruining what I had done LOL.

As my confidence has grown over the years, I am really enjoying going back to these pieces and pretty much approaching them with reckless abandon! As it stands now, they're just scrap paper so I may as well do something to them. Being able to finally put in 'the darks' just makes them come off the page for me.

I still have lots more playing to do with this one - the left side has been terribly neglected so far - but I'm very pleased with the progress!