"Luminous" Latest Watercolor of a Colorful Floral Painting in Yellow and Pink

"Luminous" P.J. Cook

Colorful watercolor in yellow and pink flowers is a new original painting offered in a nice gold wood frame size 22" x 28" Price is $950 and will brighten up any room with the luminous color. I set up this still life with the flowers and apples and then painted the original watercolor. For more information on purchasing this watercolor painting send an email to" pj@pjcookartist.com.
Thanks

"Winter Light" Watercolor Painted as a Demonstration in my Class

"Winter Light"

The watercolor shown here is a demonstration painting done at one of my recent watercolor classes. This painting is done using a pouring technique and then is finished with direct painting. The students worked along with me step by step while I was painting. Pouring paint is a different approach to watercolor painting and is usually new to people in the class and can be a lot of fun.

My next class starts Jan 14 through Feb 18, 2012 at Artisans Harbor in Old Saybrook, CT. Contact me via email through my About page here on this blog or Artisans Harbor directly 860-388-9070.

"Apples and Lace" Still Life

"Apples and Lace" P. J. Cook

This watercolor has a fall season look with the apples and the colors. This still life includes old wooden paddles and a wood box with gold tole painted on the side. I set the objects on the lace for contrast. Notice how the light on the right side of the painting is warmer and brighter than the cool shadows on the left. The little pitcher has the lace reflected on the shiny surface.
Contact for more info on this painting or commissions.

Painting 2 In My Ocean Wave Series - 10 inch by 13 inch Watercolor

This is another recent watercolor I did of ocean waves breaking along a rocky shoreline. The size of this original painting is 10 inch by 13 inch. This is the second painting in my ocean wave series I started out painting in watercolor. I am currently working on waves breaking along a beach in acrylic paint. I may add a sand piper bird running along the sand in this newer painting. Check back to see how that painting progresses. Thanks

Watercolor Demonstration in Old Saybrook During Gallery Opening

A watercolor demonstration by artist PJ Cook.

This photo was taken while I was giving a watercolor demonstration at Artisans Harbor during the last gallery opening in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. The next demo will be on Saturday, Feb. 26 from 4:30 to 7 p.m., where there will be several artists giving demonstrations. Artisans Harbor is at 188 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT.

This is an excerpt from The Day Newspaper /www.theday.com/article: 

On Saturday, Feb. 26 from 4:30 to 7 p.m., several demonstrations are planned. Bernard McTigue will give an oil painting demonstration; P.J. Cook will give a watercolor demonstration; Carole Young will share her glass painting technique; John Houle will demonstrate his woodburning scrimshaw technique; and Kathy Citron will throw vessels on the potter wheel. McTigue, Cook, and Citron all teach classes at Artisans Harbor. Wine, cider, and appetizers will be served.

Color Sketch for Painting of Shorebird "Laughing Gull"

During one of my kayak excursions last summer I came across these laughing gulls. There were many of them along a sand bar as I was paddling in a marsh on the outer shore of Cape Cod. I thought they were attractive shorebirds with their black heads and grey wings and I knew that they would make a great painting.

In the first stage of this painting  I did this color sketch. It can be in any medium, pencil, marker, watercolor whatever is handy at the time. The color sketch above is done with a black marker and then a watercolor wash. I may do this painting in oil or acrylic paint, I have not decided yet. But I do have a good start for this painting of birds after my quick color sketch. Check back for updates on this painting and my large oil of the Watch Hill Carousel that I am still working on.

Winter Ducks - Birds seen at this time of year in Connecticut

One of the things I enjoy in the cold winter here in Old Lyme, Connecticut is viewing the winter birds. I call them winter birds because that is the only time of year that I see them. For the last several winters these ducks arrive when the cold weather starts and they disappear when our weather starts to warm up. I assume they have traveled from more northern climates to find open water.  This photo above I took on the Black Hall River here in Old Lyme. These ducks are Hooded Mergansers and they did not like me getting this close. They rapidly scurried around when they first spotted me and then they swam further away.  I took this photo quickly before they swam up the river away from me. These ducks are so unusual with their large feathered heads and black striping on their bodies. I may paint these birds in oil on canvas or in watercolor some day and use this photo for reference. For that reason I always carry my camera and I take the time to notice my surroundings, give it a try you might see something interesting .

Creating textures in watercolor

My class wanted to work on textures so this weeks lesson was how to create various textures in watercolor. The brick wall above is easily achieved by varying the color of each brick and using a light grey wash for the mortar between the bricks. An important step is putting a shadow under each brick. I used a shadow on the left and bottom of each brick for the light coming from the upper right of the picture. I used cobalt blue for the shadow color. Brick comes in different colors, just look around and notice all the different shades there are of brick. Add detail with dry brush and smaller detail with a small round brush. One of the members of the class stated " this is fun!" while painting her wall. I have always enjoyed painting brick too.

The next texture was a metal watering can. The texture was created with salt. While the paint is still wet add some table salt to the area that you want texture and wait for the paint to dry. Do not use a blow dryer, let it air dry, you don't want to blow all the salt away! Once the paint is dry, brush all the salt off and continue painting the bucket. You can glaze over the texture area with more paint and add shadows and detail.

Clay pots was the next texture that I demonstrated using salt. It is not necessary to use salt everywhere just put on select areas of the pots. After the paint is dry continue modeling the clay pots with different colors and values for variety.

I used a Arches watercolor paper that was 140 lb. in a rough texture. I like to use that type of paper when I want texture. Try different paper and you will get interesting results. Consider new ways of painting and your work will improve and you will grow as an artist.

Till next week,
P.J. Cook

Adding Figures To Your Paintings

Adding figures to your paintings is a great way to add interest. The viewer will spend more time looking at a painting when there are people. These figures on the left are done quickly and without much detail. Even without the detail a viewer knows what they are. You will see improvement in your figures if you practice them often. They can be done from life or photos or even from your imagination. The samples done here are people walking. It gives action to your paintings to add figures.

Some of the facts for painting people are: there are about seven heads in the total height of the figure, the top of the legs or waist is half the height of the figure, arms hang to about halfway down the thigh. Observing people is the best way to learn the right proportions.

I always look for the light falling on a figure and I use that to create form. Use shadows and lights next to darks, similiar to the paintings above. Try not to paint stick figures, notice how people stand and walk and the angle created with shoulders and hips.

Another important fact for figures is to scale them to your surroundings. People closer to you are bigger than people in the distance. Be sure that your people are the correct proportion to buildings, doors, cars etc.

Use the biggest brush possible and paint shapes to create your figures and add as little detail as possible. A story can be told when you add figures to your paintings. Practice and have fun with it. Try not to be perfect and your figures will be better.

How To Paint Watercolor Washes

My lesson this week for my Monday afternoon group was about different washes: flat, gradated, wet into wet and streaked wash. We divided up our paper into several squares for practice. One of the most important aspects of painting a wash is to have enough paint prepared on your palette. The gradated wash shown here is done by adding more and more water to your brush as you work down the paper. It is also a good idea to tilt your board while you are working.

A wet into wet wash can be multiple colors painted onto very wet paper. The paint will blend together on the paper. It is important to lay the color on then leave it to dry, do not overwork the wash. It is a good idea to dry your paper at the same angle that your painted it on. The flat wash is easier if the board is flat while painting and drying. The flat wash is a solid color throughout the square with no changes in value.

The streaked wash is done very wet while dropping wet paint onto the board and tilting your paper in the desired direction. Let the paint dry flat so it does not disturb the paint. A streaked wash is good to display action. In the example I used two colors and the purple is streaking across the paper.

I finished up our class with a small painting that was accomplished using several gradated washes letting each wash dry before starting the next wash. The cobalt blue was gradated from left to right and the yellow from the opposite direction. After the washes were completed I finished with direct painting of the lighthouse and boat. Another technique used here was pulling paint off the paper for the reflections of the lighthouse and boat. Using a stiffer wet brush wet the area that is to be lightened and brush over the area and than dab onto a paper towel. Repeat this process until the reflections are light enough.

Being able to paint different washes in watercolor will improve your paintings. Try practicing the different types of washes while working on dry and wet paper.
Thanks, P.J. Cook

Watercolor lesson on painting evergreen trees

I gave my 3rd watercolor lesson yesterday to my Monday afternoon group in Old Saybrook. In the previous class a request was made for learning how to paint trees, specifically evergreen trees. I decided to give a demonstration for about 45 min to an hour and then have the class try their own painting. The painting shown above is the watercolor I did in class. After finishing my demo the class started their own watercolors. I gave individual and general painting tips as they worked. After an hour and a half most of the paintings were finished or close to being finished. As we looked around at the watercolors someone commented that every painting was entirely different from each other. This never fails to impress me, I think it is especially true in watercolor painting.

Some of the people are encouraged with their painting and a few are unhappy and discouraged with their watercolor. I stress to the group that"even if they remember one tip or technique I gave them then the class was a success".

In next weeks class I will show how to paint 4 different types watercolor washes.