Preparing the Backgrounds for My Paintings

Kingfishers in process with watercolor

I rarely work on one or two watercolors at a time. It's far more often that I draw up a dozen or so subjects on the stretched watercolor paper, then when it's time to paint, I have a large selection of choices before me.

About 15 pieces are stretched and ready to paint

My  drawing/painting table setup

Yesterday I began the two Kingfisher paintings at the top of the post. I like to have light, airy paintings done in loose watercolors, allowing the viewer to focus on the chosen details that are supported by the more abstract background. Here is one of them, not yet signed.

So to continue, these are the new ones I worked on today - just laying in the abstract yet colorful backgrounds to feature the birds or animals I really focus on. This first one is actually an outdoor scene without any birds or animals to be found. I happen to love foggy days and often take lots of photos to capture the transient and ever changing nature of fog. Here is how I've laid in the background thus far. I'm not sure if I'll add to this or begin working on the trees... Time will tell!

The photo above the painting provides the inspiration for what will follow here. The fog had several layers that I want to capture before I add the detailing of the distant trees.

Next, I want to capture this winter Bluebird in the snow, a photo taken outside my porch in the cherry tree. It was so cold, windy and snowy, I wanted to create those elements as the backdrop for Mr. Bluebird. So I used two types of salt to absorb the color.

Flipping that one upside down, I had a second drawing of a House Finch in autumn. To create an autumnal background, I chose the warmer oranges, yellows, plus a bit of green.

Then is the fox - settled nicely in the foxy colors that they so well blend in with when out in the wild. Tall weeds and grasses in warm, golden hues.

This last  one for today is a darling little chipmunk. I'm not at all sure why I've chosen the blues for his background, but there you have it. Artistic license!

Tomorrow is another day - and maybe the sun will come out and warm up the studio! Hope you enjoyed seeing the beginnings of some watercolor paintings. Questions and comments welcome!