Dabbling in Watercolours

Today being a wet, windy and wild day, I thought I would try my hand at painting.  All morning my girls were cranking out picture after picture of colour.   Mostly flowers and rainbows and a few abstract ones too.

 

I have decided that I am quite in love with watercolours, I just love them. They are very romantic don't you think? I find it quite intriguing that you can change the depth and intensity of the colour just by how much water you have on the brush.  Listen to me! I sound like I have a clue to what I am talking about. Truth is I have NO artistic talent what so ever and have never taken an art class beyond the compulsory ones at intermediate (middle) school level.  Miss Hawkins was just the coolest teacher ever but I doubt she would remember me and my talent (or lack of).  I think I got an 'A' for effort. Even though I didn't have a choice (yes Mum I did say "didn't have a choice") as to whether or not I took art in High School, I don't think I would of chosen that path. I think I would of chosen along the lines of Home Economics/Fabric and Design and maybe even Journalism.  But no, I was hmmmm strongly urged to pursue the areas of Accounting, Economics and Science.  Oh and I can't forget the Japanese can I. It was suggested that I take this language because it would take me a long way in the Mega-Million-Dollar-Deals I was going to be making with my accounting and economics skills. It can't go without saying that I hated Japanese class and was terrible at it.  I can't even remember the poor teachers name and all I do remember of her class was learning to say 'Hello' -  Konichi Wa and the lesson where she tried to teach us how to use chopsticks by picking up jelly beans. Both lessons that I am pretty sure I could of learnt off Sesame Street. Accounting and Economics didn't fare much better either. So I guess I was never destined to be a high flying Japanese speaking business women. Hmmm I strayed a bit far off that course didn't I? Sorry.

Anyway back to the water colours - inspired by my girls who just seem to be able to pick up a brush and always just know what to paint, I thought that I would have a go. And so I stared, and I stared at the white blank paper.  My eyes perused the room for clues on what to paint and then they found something - The NZ Gardener Magazine. After a quick flick through the glossy pages I found a page of flowers in yellow and white and a touch of purple. They didn't look too hard.  Kaitlyn joined me at my side and with our brushes in our hands the first stroke of paint were being applied.   I am glad Jamie wasn't at home while I was doing that because I am pretty darn sure I had the whole tongue hanging out the side of my mouth thing going on. I discovered that there is a bit of an art (pun intended) to water colours and getting the right water-to-paint ratio. I don't think that is something that I will be mastering in a hurry.  The other thing I discover is how hard it is to paint white flowers. I mean they are white without being white.  Maybe I should of been kind to myself and just stuck to painting the yellow ones.  All in all I quite enjoy my wee soiree into the world of water colours.  I am not sure it will become a hobby of mine - I have enough of those that I don't get enough time do to.  But I can certainly appreciate the talent and love that other people have.
Just in case you can't tell what my flowers are, here is my attempt at Lewisia brachycalyx, Ranunculus insignis, Primula denticulata and Eranthis hyemalis (from left to right) PS I have no clue what so ever if they have normal English names.

 

These two are my favourite.

  I think Miss Hawkins might of like these.

Is there anything you wish you could have a go at?

 

 

Paint and Rainbows

I don't know too many parents that don't have even a little hesitation when their children ask if they can paint.  I think even the best ones still have at least a small intake of breath and drop of the shoulders when painting is requested or suggested.

My kids love to paint.  Paint pictures. Pictures on paper, on stones, on faces, on blocks of wood..if it can be painted then they will have a go at it.

The thing with painting in my house is that if one wants to paint then everyone wants to paint and it turns into a huge exercise.  Next minute the table is lined with newspaper, the paints are out, glasses are half filled with water, brushes are lined up, sleeves rolled up and the smell of paint has permeates through the room.  All this can happen in minutes!

I think what keeps me on edge with paint, especially with the little ones, is that it gets over everything. Fingers, hair, faces and clothes!

And if its all over those things when it comes time to wash up it could end up on the walls, couch chairs and whatever else is on the way to the bathroom.

This is very scary!

 

 

I do however, love the creativeness of children's minds.  Unlike me, whenever I have a paint brush in my hand, my mind goes blank and I never know what to paint.  Clearly painting is not a gift of mine.  Children don't need to ask what to paint, they just choose a colour and a brush and away they go.  Oh how envious am I!!  I usually end up painting a rainbow every single time.  How original!

 



 

 

  

 Isn't this cool! 

Even if it is just the paint plate!

  

Speaking of rainbows.

This was outside our window just a few days ago.

A pity there wasn't a pot of gold at the end of it since it was almost in touching distance.

 

Maybe painting rainbows isn't so bad after all.

Happy Weekend to you. May you do something that is just simply...well ....fun!

 

All you need is a box!