Sunday, May 11, 2008

Stenbäck



I went to see my dad a few days ago, and found this beautiful spot near his house where the sunshine fell through the tiny leaves of some spring green birch trees. I didn´t quite manage to capture that sparkling play of light and shadows among the trees, so this is a somewhat simplified version of what I saw in front of me.

I always mix my greens, and I got to try out a lot of new-found mixes here, since I´ve changed a few colours on my palette. It was incredibly fun to do, and the weather permitted me to sit in shorts and a t-shirt (for the first time this year!) and just enjoy myself.

A trick I use sometimes, especially on bigger sketchbook pages like this one: I put some masking tape on the left and right side of the page. I like to get those straight edges there like margins in the book.

17.5 x 26 cm, pencil and watercolours on Arches Satinée watercolour paper. (Sketchbook page.)

13 comments:

Sandy said...

Lovely fresh greens (sounds like a salad) I always struggle with greens and invariable do not like them once on the paper in progress, thanks for showing it is possible!!

Lisa Adams Reed said...

I want to go sit in these woods! So serene!

Claudia said...

You did a nice job on this, Nina!

Margaret Ann said...

Beautiful dappled sunlight...very peaceful...Three cheers for tee shirts and shorts! LOL :)

seesue said...

SPRING GREEN. Can't wait. Thanks for posting your serene setting..it helps.

José Louro said...

Great, the hand above.

Anetka said...

the longer you "stare" at your painting the more you see depth in it, as for me...stunningly calming.

Cathy Gatland said...

It looks pretty sparkling to me - beautiful spring greens. We're moving into winter down here! :-(

Sue said...

This is beautiful. I like how you make it look like woods without depicting every tree trunk and branch. And the greens are wonderful.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Beautiful transparent colours, Nina. I particularly love the design in the foreground foliage.

DALowe Artist said...

Oh yes, you DID capture it! This is just awesome!

Unknown said...

Hi NIna,

I love these watercolor paintings - very spontaneous and impressionistic! Hope you have plenty of time to take you new paintbox (recent post) out on location to do more!

Veronica

Margaret McCarthy Hunt said...

what a lovely wc of a lovely spot...well done!!!