My dad and my grandpa were both really talented, professional artists. I'm 28 now and have never before felt the desire to develop some painting skills. However, just a few weeks ago the urge to learn how to paint and draw hit me quite strongly. Maybe it's a family calling. I don't know. Whatever it is, I'm heeding the call and throwing myself into learning.
I saved up a very large chunk of money to fund a writing workshop, but when I wasn't one of the few applicants selected to attend I decided to spend a bit of that money on art supplies and to work on developing that skill instead. With the help of one of Elizabeth Tolley's books on painting, I purchased warm and cool versions of each of the primaries plus warm and cool greens and a white in oil (water-miscible), acrylic, transparent watercolor, and gouache. Plus plenty of canvasses and canvas boards, a few tablets of watercolor paper, and a couple of nice sketch books. And, of course, pencils for sketching and drawing. I also got an inexpensive French easel so I can try some plein air painting when I get brave enough to make the attempt.
I tried this watercolor of a great blue heron first. I've painted only cartoony, "fun," silly pet portraits for family members before. I've only tried to use value and tone twice prior to this watercolor, and this was my first-ever use of watercolor. I think it turned out fairly well, but I have a long way to go until I'm where I want to be. With plenty of practice, I'll get there...eventually.
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