Relaxing a bit....

Sometimes you need to step awaaaay from the tiny brushes, the details, the itty-bitty time consuming steps and just enjoy the flow in watercolors.  

Picking up a large brush and painting an entire quick study in a few minutes clears  the mind of the clutter of petals, reflections and shadows and helps you see the larger picture as a whole.  I, for one, can get very caught up in the details and I know I need to improve in this area.

Sooo, of course in my style of if-you're-going-to-do-it-do-it-all-the-way....(just ask my husband) , I choose a vase of flowers with literally hundreds of little spaces and tiny fragmented petals and so on and so forth....

PEONIES!  Yes!  Let's try it!

So, what you want to do with a loose study is just wet certain parts of the flower.  After a quick, LOOSE sketch (and I mean loose and quick!  No cheating by getting into the details), with your largest brush (mine's a #12) quickly identify the center of the flower and wet just portions, touching in color as you go.  You want your strokes to be random and for the colors to be deeper to indicate depth in the petals.  I kind of work around in a circular pattern

This is two quick washes.  A quick sketch watercolor should take about 15-20 minutes...that's it.  I love not having to soften or go back in and get out my smaller brushes.

Try it and see what you come up with!

As always, email me or comment if you have any questions.  I'd love to hear from you.

Happy Painting, my friends!