What? I have homework?

 I decided to take a six week watercolor class with my friend Pomona on Wednesdays from 1 - 4 pm.  We used to sketch on Wednesdays and thought we could still get together and I might learn something about actually painting with watercolor.  I use it for adding color to sketches but that is far from painting with it.  Pomona has been using watercolors for many years and is a teacher in Austin at the old Laguna Gloria (not sure of the new name) and at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico.  She is very good. 

Only one person had signed up for it on Monday, so they cancelled the class.  I signed up on-line so did not know it was cancelled.  The Center called me to let me know the class was cancelled.   I talked to Pomona and told her we could still meet at the Center and sketch.    I met her at the Lost Pines Art Center on Wednesday.  She decided to have the class anyway with just me and then the other person might join in, too.  Great, a one on one private lesson.  Yay!

But wait!  (As they say on TV.)  I hadn't thought about buying more supplies $$$ and actually learning.  Learning means practice and study and yes ... HOMEWORK!    Sigh....  Remember I am a procrastinator and a lazy person.

I did learn something right away.  When you use a natural sponge to make texture like leaves it is better to "paint" the paint onto the sponge instead of dabbing it in the paint.  Makes better spots and no blobs.  We worked on washes and glazes.  My light touch learned from doing pastels is a help in that process.  I know something about blending/mixing color so that is probably easier for me than a beginner.  

I haven't done any homework yet.  I did try to paint for the Southwest challenge and I will say that you can't paint with watercolor like oils.  Ha.  Maybe I'll share my next watercolor painting.

As for sketching for Hunt Number 561
  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1455523

Number 1 taillight -  Gene and I went to Walmart and I waited in the car and sketched on my phone.  Brushes app and fingers.  Not sure what kind of car it was, the light was not on.

Number 2 makes you sleepy - watching the watercolor paint dry from my class.  : )  Sort of a stretch, but you know how it is.

I subscribe to the Empty Easel Blog.  They have all sorts of ideas, lessons, demos, advice, etc.  The post on the 16th has some links to sites that have timed gesture drawing from photos.  Cool, it's like life form drawing at your fingertips.  I hope I remember to try it when I am out of ideas.

http://emptyeasel.com/2018/10/16/2-excellent-online-resources-for-gesture-drawing/

Now I'm going to practice my washes   .....     or not!