1.13.2012

...haiku my heart plus paint...

Miss Bee Eater has her own Haiku



oh, my darling dearest
would you hold my handbag
whilst i fix my hat?


color study for miss bee



the one that makes it all work

I don't know about you, but I always like to do a color study before I begin a serious painting.  Miss Bee Eater began as a journal exercise earlier this week.  I then worked on her colors with colored pencils everyday, adding a little layer of color here and there.  Yesterday the netting was drawn in and I think I'm ready to duplicate her into a watercolor.  The photo above is greatly enlarged, her head and hat are about an inch square.

For my "morning pages" I tore up one sheet of 30 x 22 watercolor pages into 18-5x7 pieces and this is what I work on daily.  I can't do a book, it just doesn't work for me. 

I remember groaning in every class I took where we had to do a color study.  We did them in high school and we did them in college.  I even had to do them as an adult taking a night watercolor class through a local college.  BORING...making little squares and filling them in with your paints....tedious and uninspiring.  BUT if you do what you like with pen & ink like I did here, it's fun and they are totally worth the effort. 

For Miss Bee I want to use my Neocolor crayons but the colors on the paper were too much like Easter eggs.  Then I had the idea to paint a little Russet over the Rose.  The Carmine made the Rose even more pink but the Russet toned it down to a color I could live with.  Then I tried it on all the other colors.  Worked like a charm.  What I like about working with the Neocolors is that you can add color over the top without affecting the bottom color too much.  Then, so I don't forget, I wrote the combos in on my sheet with a Sharpie.  Color Study made much more fun and interesting!  I hope I can capture her coquettish nature with my paints~!


...and if you have a moment, please pop round and see my new Etsy shop...thanks!

35 comments:

mimitabby said...

what a sweet little bird! Thanks for telling me about your zoo!

happy PPF!

priti.lisa said...

Your haiku is a joy, Jean...I love the word whilst. You new shop is beautiful and so is Miss Bee♥♥♥

Carol L McKenna said...

Lovely creation with the haiku ~~ namaste, carol (Share the Creative Journey) Happy PPF

La Abela said...

What a pity that the Haiku not be traudzca well.... I love the haiku. Saludos

Spadoman said...

Nice job Jean... Miss Bee is quite fashionable with her hat and netted veil. I don't know about color studies. I'm not that kind of artist, but it seems to work for you. I love how Miss Bee looks.

Peace

peggy gatto said...

PURE DELIGHT!!!!
you should see my smile!!!!!!!

Stephanie said...

Great to read your process...love to know how other people work.

she is very coquettish indeed!

x..x

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

She is simply darling...and working with Neocolors crayons (spelling)is pure joy...you have reminded me to get them out again today since I am snow bound today. Have a blissful weekend! Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Gloria said...

Oh that Haiku is right on with this piece Jean. Excellent work. Thanks for sharing. Love those Neocolor crayons, they are so much fun to work with.

Debbie said...

You really made me smile here. I love your darling bird and haiku. Your colors really are so nice! I, too loathe the color mixing exercises required for painting classes -- I agree, so boring and I never go back to look at them once they're done. It is so much better to play a little first before ruining a painting, though. You've given me new inspiration to have fun with color studies. Thank you!!

Netty said...

Loving Miss Bee Eater and thank you for showing how you prepare. Happy PPF, Annette x

Steph said...

Delightful!! Jean and the art is lovely as ways....steph

Helen Campbell said...

I love your haiku, matches Miss Bee Eater quite well! :)

Christine said...

Just lovely Miss Bee is!

GrandmaK said...

Isn't she just the most sophisticated "lady!" Did so enjoy my visit here!! Have a grand weekend!! Cathy

Mary C. Nasser said...

Very sweet Miss Bee Eater portrait and haiku! ♥♥♥

Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art

Daniele Valois said...

this gird is absolutely beautifuL!

Mandy said...

Oh she is prim and proper and perfect...wonderful...love the poem to match too..and your colour study is lovely...xxx

mjspringett said...

Lovely, i am breathless, you are talented mega big time, thanks for being my sister, MJ

elizabeth bunsen said...

all yum!
great haiku
yes I will
love the veil...

xox - eb.

Fran aka Redondowriter said...

I love reading your process of how you prepare to paint, but I especially love Miss Bird and your haiku sentiments.

Maria Ontiveros said...

I've never heard of a color study before, but I love the idea. My whole mixed media group is known as saying that there's nothing that a wash of nickel azo gold can't fix!
Rinda

Marit said...

The haiku made me smile! Oh, I remember colour studies from art school! I did love to fill in those squares (especially when we had to do it with thin ink lines and a dip pen) It was almost like meditating! I don't do studies/tests like that anymore - seeing your art makes me thing - maybe I should!

Beadwright said...

Very nice bird painting and haiku.
Nicole/Beadwright

somepinkflowers said...

oh
oh
the haiku is Way Kool
but this part--->

~~the netting~~

on this birdie's hat
is
Swooon*Worthy!

Belinda Carson said...

Such a sweet, sweet painting! And I love the Haiku!! Loving it!!
Belinda

foxysue said...

Yes I have done those little charts too in prescriptive courses but my way is just experimentation. Like you the "morning 3 pages" and all of that, I just can't conform, I do like your idea though!

Sue x

art2cee2 said...

Terrific Haiku and the little bird is adorable with her hat! :-)

wednesday said...

What a great idea for doing color studies. I always hated doing them too, pretty much anything regimented, really.

I can't believe you could get so much detail and expression in such a tiny image. It will be a great painting.

MollyGirl said...

Oh, that little bird is so charming!

SHERI C said...

ADORE the bird and your color study is wonderful too.
Happy PPF!
Sheri Cook
HappyHorseStudio

Sunshineshelle said...

Too cute, sense of fun & talented! Pleased I dropped by :)

shedreamsofthesea said...

Such gorgeous art and haiku and I had a look around and I really love your beautiful blog.

Pam Tucker said...

LOVED, loved the painting and haiku. And that netting on the hat! Oh, it's wonderful! Your color study idea is intriguing. Will have to try that! :)

squidmom said...

I really loved learning about your process, Miss Bee is lovely and the haiku matches her whimsy. Beautiful.