01 March 2015

Nearly there

 It's Spring I'm talking about.


If the only way I can see blossom is by forcing it,
why not, give it a try.
Last week I cut some branches of Forsythia
put them in a tall vase and placed them on the window ledge
to force the flowers to bloom.
It certainly wasn't the sun that did it,
as we didn't see much of the sun this past week.
It must have been the warmth in the house.


I love the way the flowers appear before the leaves.


Something new to me, quick painting wet on wet
with a textured finish to the back ground using cling film.
I like it. I'll certainly do some more of this.



I used Winsor & Newton  12x9 in.
Cotman 300 gsm/140 lbs Cold pressed/Not
and W & N watercolour paint.
Still on the board, not quite finished.


Then I colour washed it.


I have Photoshop, but can't for the life of me master it.
Does anyone have step by step instructions ?
something like the books you can buy for 'Dummies'

Then I did this using Picasa.
Would you like this painting for a card ?



Time to reflect on where I'm going with my painting.

à bientôt
Barbara Lilian


12 comments:

  1. I like the abstract effect you've got on the flowers, keep at it Barbara, practice makes perfect! I have no idea how Photoshop works either. To make my cards I print off the picture on to cartridge paper then mount it on a purchased blank card with a matching envelope.

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  2. I think it's very pretty..we are nowhere near Spring yet..

    What do you wish to do w/ Photoshop?

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  3. Je met souvent des branches de cet arbuste dans un vase pour hop tenir des fleurs. Je ne connais rien a Photoshop. Vos peinture sont belles. Je vous souhaite une bonne semaine.

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  4. Me hago seguidora de tu blog, tus post son interesantes, saludos desde España

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  5. What a lovely already Spring feeling in your photos Barbara - they warm my heart! I've always loved Forsythia - the road leading to my childhood home in Devon was lined on either side with those bright yellow bushes and would always be so welcoming when they bloomed. Pansies - the most delightful little flowers in such beautiful colors - mine are frozen still but will soon perk up again hopefully as we warm up a bit.

    You are a most accomplished artist - I enjoyed seeing your materials at the ready having worked in art (commercial and advertising) for many years. A good sable brush, a box of colors, and a clean sheet of watercolor paper is so full of potential when one has your skills Barbara - lucky you. Look forward to seeing more as the flowers flourish in the warmer weather.

    Hugs - Mary

    P.S. Sorry, don't use Photoshop - too complicated and no patience/time to learn! I use iPhoto on my MacBook for basic edits, then go to PicMonkey for everything else - love that easy program and am happy with results. I do resize my photos to make them larger. I use three cameras, a Canon 7D-SLR, an aging Olympus point and shoot, and a newer Nikon point and shoot - quite honestly I think I get just as good pics with the easy to use point and shoots as the big heavy DSLR! All the photos taken of the garden/birds etc. in my recent posts were taken with the Olympus.

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  6. Oh Barbara - these photos make me wistful for spring. It has been so cold and snowy here that the pussy willows and forsythia are still hibernating but maybe in the next week or so I will cut some and bring indoors. Love your painting friend. P.S - be sure to read your email - I received your lovely package! It made my day ever so glad. Hugs.

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  7. You are so talented, all the versions of your painting are gorgeous. I had a Photoshop for Dummies book several years ago for a much older version. I guess it didn't help because I'm still a dummy when it comes to PS:-)

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  8. What a lovely blog! Your artwork and photography are just wonderful!

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  9. Barbara, everything is gorgeous. You are a very talented lady, both in art and photography. Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. You have a lovely blog. :)

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  10. I LOVE the painting! I'm visiting you from Debbie's blog....I will be visiting you again!!

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  11. I can feel your great inspired energy, both in the indoor forsythia and in your painting! Lovely! I only use iphoto but am getting so I'm wanting a bit more editing capability which photoshop probably has...However, new tech things take ma a long time to learn...and I feel like I want to keep focused on my non-tech art more than the photo side of things...

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