Trumpet Parts No. 38, With Oxalis, of course…

Triad color scheme with split complements, dominant color is Blue/Purple.  That gives me Blue/Purple, Yellow and Orange.

Trumpet Valve, Caps and Rooting Oxalis

The entire day was spent drawing the trumpet valve parts.  I have more than sixty drawings left to do.  I want to finish them before spring arrives so that I can begin my next series of 100 drawings and paintings as soon as the earth begins to awaken from winter.  I’m thinking of focusing on hedgerows.

Each drawing is unique, even if the subject matter is the same.  Each drawing requires my total focus.  Though I say I want to be done, I am not rushing.  I learn nothing when I rush.  For me, drawing and painting is about learning new ways of seeing and new ways of expressing what I see, it is not about making pictures.

Sketchbook drawing:  drawn first with fountain pen, followed by watercolor.

 

Rooting Oxalis, perfect subject for Color Scheme Game

I admit that I’m hooked on my mason jar filled with rooting oxalis clippings (that haven’t yet rooted).

Various color schemes

To recap the roll of the twelve-sided die (See the basic rules of the Color Scheme Game), I threw the following:

Far left: First Throw for Color Scheme – #2 … Complementary

Second Throw for Dominant Color – #8 … Red / Purple

Center: First Throw for Color Scheme – #5 … Analogous

Second Throw for Dominant Color – #2 … Yellow / Green

Far Right: First Throw for Color Scheme – #12 … Modified Triad

Second Throw for Dominant Color – #11 … Orange

For me, the color scheme that I felt most challenged by was the last, the Modified Triad with Orange as the dominant color.  The modified triad colors were Red, Orange and Yellow, all on the warm side of the color wheel.  I would never choose this color scheme.  I was tempted to throw the dice for what I considered a better choice of dominant color.  That, of course, defeats the purpose of playing the game.  Once I began laying in color, I ended up enjoying the painting.  I might even choose this again in a plein air oil painting!

Sketchbook paintings:  drawn first with fountain pen filled with black ink followed by watercolor washes

 

Watercolor Sketch of Oxalis Plant

Today is Betty Stroppel’s birthday.  Happy Birthday Betty!  This little sketch of my baby oxalis plant opening into the morning sun is for you!

Baby Oxalis Plant in the Morning Sun, watercolor sketch

Betty doesn’t use a computer, so she will not be able to read this post.  I will print a giclee of this little sketchbook painting and send it to her by way of snail mail, a post-birthday surprise package.  I spoke with her this morning and she had just finished a piece of Boston Lime Pie.  Hmmmmm. Never heard of that before.  A bit early in the day for pie, but it’s her birthday.  She can eat pie all day long if she wants to.  Her voice is weak, but her spirit is strong!  She continues to inspire me to paint each and every day and to become a much stronger painter.  I will not let her down.

Study of an oxalis plant: I began with a line drawing done with my Waterman Phileas fountain pen, followed by watercolor washes.   The inspiration for the color study was the shapes of the leaves and shadow.