Watercolour classes

在剛完成的水彩課，很高興看到同學們的努的和進步。水彩畫是很難塗改的，所以畫的時候要預先計劃好如何進行。每次的習作都有不同的課題，不同的挑戰，有趣的是水彩畫會給你一種意想不同的效果。

在學習技巧的過程中也有變化的空間，例如在用色和構圖內容方面，都可以有自己的配搭。每次把所有作品放在一起時，都很精“彩”！同時因為各人用不同品牌的顏料，也不會每張作品都一樣，而不同的選色也可在日後參考。

Too Good Pond

 This morning we had a paint out at Main Street, Unionville. Not many fellows could come and join as it was Monday morning, and, it was chilly. We didn't think we could stay outside for long. So we went to have breakfast and a nice chat inside a cozy restaurant. When we finished, the weather was getting warmer. So we walked around to take some nice Fall pictures and sit down for painting. The Canada geese and ducks kept talking while we were painting. They flew over and chased each other. I felt like watching a live Discovery Channel. I love Too Good Pond very much, it gives us a chance to be so close to nature and the feeling of peace.

My set-up

The Geese plays

Too Good Pond

Today was Thanksgiving holiday. I thought there would be fewer visitors here because everyone should have been very busy with preparing the Thanksgiving dinner. But it was not. The pond was beautiful, leaves were turning colours., everyone was busy with taking photos. The original plan was painting the foliage. It was just too many people at the locations of the foliage. I kept going and searching for a spot. Finally, I decided to paint two friends who were fishing. Like things happened before, they were gone before I finished the painting.

Many people looked at me when I was painting. It was kind of hard to focus. A lady started talking to me and telling me she is from Lebanon, where is the neighbour of Syria. Thankfully she is here in Canada, a much more safer place. She looked very happy and put a piece of maple leave on the jacket as a brooch. It was a bit windy, my stuff was flipped over a couple times. I feel so thankful that I had done a painting on such a nice day and peaceful place.

Another post of Too Good Pond: http://perry-chow.blogspot.ca/2010/10/too-good-pond-markham.html

今天是感恩節假期，以為會沒有那麽多人，所以來寫生。可是人一樣很多，風景很美，秋天紅葉，大家都忙著拍照。本來想畫紅葉，但有紅葉的地方很多人。一邊向前走，一邊選景，看到了一對友人在垂釣，就決定畫他們，當然和以往的經歷一樣，畫未畫完，他們便離開了。

在畫畫的過程中，途人不斷，集中有點難。當中有位女士走過來讚了我的畫，並告訴我她在黎巴嫩來的！想起在那個危險的地方，能來到這裡，我也替她高興。秋風凜凜，畫具吹翻了數次。不過陽光景色怡人，也算在感恩節完成了一項感恩的事。

Credit Valley Explorer

Another choice to view the fall's beautiful scenery in Toronto is by train. You can just sit back and chat with friends. The train is mainly for hauling freight during weekdays. In weekends, it's for sightseeing. The whole trip takes about 3.5 hours. There are beverages and a lunch served. The weather is just perfect for the trip, we can see the leaves are turning red. Beautiful scenery and friendly service! After the trip, we stayed in Orangeville for a while and I sketched the monument at Alexandra Park.

Volkswagen Golf R

Golf R - 11"x14" Watercolour on Paper

Work in Progress

Original Photo

My hubby is a fan of Volkswagen. The painting is a birthday gift for him.
Painting car is never my favourite. This is the second car I paint for him. The first one was also a Volks, but is a GTI in carbon grey colour.

I don't like the original background. Hence, it's replaced by a colourful sky.
老公是Volks的擁蹇，由Jetta到現在的Golf R都是Volks系列。這幅畫是他的生日禮物。以前也畫過一幅GTI給他，比較起來，現在的作品比較大膽，把同樣的背景改掉，而且顏色也較鮮。

GTI

The First Tim Hortons

It is located in Hamilton was opened on May 17, 1964. Tim Hortons was a hockey player who played 17 full seasons and 3 partial seasons for the Toronto Maple leafs. He realized his hockey career couldn't last forever, so he opened the first franchise restaurant "Tim Hortons". By the time he died at 44, there were 40 Tim Hortons. He was a gem in Hockey world and Tim Hortons restaurant has become part of the Canadian culture.

Today the first Tim Hortons restaurant has been renovated. The second floor is a museum of Tim Hortons and Hamilton history. 

第一家的Tim Hortons是設在Hamilton。原來Tim Hortons本人是一個職業冰球手，曾代表多倫多楓葉隊出賽17季及3年部份賽事。他意識到冰球手的生涯短暫，所以開始了第一間Tim Hortons餐㕔，在飲食業方面發展。到他44歲逝世時，Tim Hortons已有40間店了。他除了是冰球界的一顆明星外，Tim Hortons餐㕔更成為了加拿大文化的一部份。

這間第一家的店已經是重新裝修過的，二樓是展示了Tim Hortons和Hamilton一些歷史資料的博物館。

Goddess Project #3 - Erzulie

3rd session - Portrait in Acrylic

The last session - work in progress

We had a beautiful lady dressed as Erzulie, who is the Haitian African spirit of love. The goddess is sometimes displayed as Black Madonna of Częstochowa. Her colours are red, gold and navy blue. Her symbols are a pierced heart and knives or swords.This was my 3rd goddess project. I capture the light from the right. The vase and the flowers have the warm and cool colours. These colours repeat on the background on the left and on the dress. I love to join this Wednesday's section at Don Valley Art Club. It gives you more time to plan and think about how to finish your painting.

The 3rd session I brought a used canvas. I painted over the previous work. The dripping effect of the previous painting is quite interesting. The face and scarf are in warm tone and hence I put blue as the background. The next is to enhance the light and refine the lower part of the face. I am still thinking if I should apply some dripping effect.

Apple - Demo

Figure 1

Figure 2

Tool:

• Escoda Perla - no. 12
• Escoda Perla - no. 8
• Colour:
  • Permanent Yellow
  • Red
  • Purple
  • Brown
  • Prussian Blue

Figure 3

• Draft with a pencil lightly.
• Wet the light area with water and paint with Permanent Yellow around the wet area. Let's blend it the clear water.  (Figure 1)
• Add some Red to the Permanent Yellow paint and paint around the yellow, and also the top part. (Figure 2)
• Add Purple in the Red mix and continue to paint the bottom part of the apple. Paint the edge on the top, paint around the stem. (Figure 3)
• Use the clean and dry brush lifts out the paint at the upper part of the apple. (Figure 4)
• Dip some Permanent Yellow paint (without mixing water) and paint on the apple.
• Paint the stem with Permanent Yellow and Brown mix for the lighter side. Mix some Prussian Blue for darker side. (Figure 5)

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3yH5JCu6cI

Figure 4

Figure 5

Watercolour Demo for BR21

Thank you BR21 for having me to do the watercolour painting demonstration. A great restaurant and nice professionals, a very welcoming group!

Rosetta McClain Gardens - DVAC Plein Air Day

Modified in Studio

It was a warm and sunny day. I thought it would be crazily warm, but it was cool with the breeze from the lake in the gardens. This time I didn't paint the gardens in the middle and painted the trees instead.

Lots of different greens here, I introduced other colours in my painting. Pushing the left trees backward and created a misty atmosphere. It's always fun and challenging to change the light and mood on the location. I think to put something in the middle of the ground but still considering what should be there.

We had lunch around 12:30 pm together and chatted. It was fun to see everyone's paintings, very inspiring. Sharing food was great too. Another highlight was to see everyone's setting, tools and materials. Awesome!

I put a dog and add more background in my studio.

When Water meets the Colour - it teaches me about life

Did you FEEL GOOD today? Yes, I did. I delivered my second speech today. It's how I met watercolour and why I love it so much.

When Water Meets Colour……...… you will understand life!

The reason why I love watercolour because it teaches me the wisdom of life.

I began with drawing when I was a kid. There was no Mr Google or Mr Youtube. I just drew my favourite cartoon characters by myself and borrowed some books for learning when I was older. After graduated from high school, I went to college to study Art and Design where I had formal training in painting and drawing. 

However, I hated watercolour because it is not a very forgiving medium. At that time, I didn’t paint watercolour much. After graduated I hade never touched it again until 2006. I started plein air painting / sketching and joined Hong Kong Sketching Society. We went out once every 2 weeks. I bought a watercolour box for this to start with mainly because light-weight, easy to carry. Meeting wonderful members and sharing the knowledge and skills on plein air painting kept me going.

After a couple of years of painting watercolour, I started understand some tricks for doing it and these connect to our life. 

First is PLANNING: 

Watercolour is not a very forgiving medium. You can’t really make many mistakes, life is the same, you can’t make many mistakes or you regrets.

Set goal → Plan → execute → review → adjust →insist → finish

To achieve the goals in your life, you need to plan ahead. You need the courage to start and you need the patience to hold on what you are believing. It doesn’t look good in the before it’s done.

Second is TIMING

Timing is important, right time does the right thing. To achieve different effects in watercolour, the amount of water and colour, the timing are the essential elements. This is all about the combinations of these 3 things. We need to do right things at the right time.

Last but not the least is to KNOW WHEN TO STOP, LET GO

Since watercolour is not a very forgiving medium. Overdone is a common mistake in watercolour painting. You have to know when to stop and let go! I believe “let go” is a great lesson to learn in life.

Today, I am a member of art clubs and participate in art shows. Some of my work has been selected to show in different media, including Splash 15 and National Post website. I am running watercolour classes too. Recently I have started a cat project. All these things drive me for excellence and pursuit a more colourful life!

水彩畫班 Watercolour Class

不經不覺已完成了在Gibson Community Centre在夏天的水彩畫班，有點不捨得，因為他們學習認真，也很風趣幽默，我們帶著歡愉的氣氛「整色整水」。很感謝同學們努力的學習，每天聽到他們說回家會再畫，心裡都很歡喜，看到他們的進步是當老師最大的回報。水彩畫千變萬化，很有挑戰性亦充滿趣味，希望每學員都感受到畫水彩畫的喜樂！

Time files! The summer watercolour class at Gibson Community Centre came to the end. I started missing the classes already. Everyone learns seriously with a sense of humor. I really enjoyed teaching the class. As a teacher, I feel thankful when the students said they are going to paint it again at home and witnessed their improvement. Watercolour painting is very challenging and also very interesting. I hope everyone enjoying it and happy painting!

Swan Demo

Swan - 6" x 8" - 140lb Cold press

Tool:

• Escoda Perla - no. 12
• Escoda Perla - no. 8
• Princeton - no. 0
• Flat Brush - 1/4
• Water spray bottle

Colour:

• Cobalt Blue
• Prussian Blue
• Yellow Ochre
• Orange
• Red
• Dark Green

• Draft with a pencil lightly.
• Mix Yellow Ochre with water and paint the neck, body and feathers of the swan.
• Paint the wing edges with Cobalt blue and the shadows under the feathers as shown on the image.
• Wet the upper part of the paper with clean water and paint the sky. 
• Mix Cobalt blue with some Prussian Blue for the water surface. Mix more Prussian Blue to paint the lines on the water surface.
• While it's still damp, spray some water on it to create the texture.
• Leave some white area and then put Yellow Ochre as the reflection of the colours of the swan.
• Paint the beak with Orange and Red, put little Prussian Blue while the paint is still wet. 
• For the dark area on the face, use the mix of Prussian Blue, Dark Green and some Red to paint. 

The Old Curiosity Tea Shop

The shop

Located at Markham Road, Main Street, an English-style restaurant is one of my favourite places to visit. Their signature house tea is worth to try! The restaurant is decorated with different kinds of tea pots. The plates and tea cups are very pretty. You would think you are already in England. Sorry! I couldn't sketch the food this time. Booking in advance is a must because there is almost impossible to get any seat by walk-in.

The entrance

The tea set (only half of the set), it's for 2.

在Markham Road的Main Street，有家吃英式茶點的店。店內所用的東西，包括杯碟都很有英國特式，牆上也掛滿林林種種的舊相片和碟，整個店的每一角落都有不同種類的茶壼。今次我不可能畫食物了，因為沒法等到畫完才吃！如要光顧這店，必須預約，否則幾乎是沒可能有位的。

Goddess Project #2- Ancient Egyptian God : Bastet

1st Session: Watercolour painting (WIP)

2nd Session: Watercolour painting 

This was my second project of the Goddess in DVAC. She is an Egyptian God named Bast who was the protector of Lower Egypt in ancient time. She was presented as a woman with a head of cat. Meredith, the model, wears the black dress with wearing the cat's ears. The make-up with the Egyptian style strong eyelines really created the feel of the Goddess.

One of my favourite artists is Charles Reed (http://www.charlesreidart.com). Love the colours he uses and the way he paints. I tried to apply some of his techniques on this painting and it turns out quite nice.

In another session, I am going to give her a kitten, a black one. Still play around warm and cold colours.

Chinatown Festival

Festivals fill up this summer! Here comes the Chinatown Festival. People enjoy the food and shopping. There are also performances on the stages. My "cats" here enjoy the city life and the sunshine!

Dim Sum Day

Almost every Chinese loves dim sum, especially in weekends. Families and friends get together, ordering different kinds of dim sums and sharing them. It is very mysterious that you cannot hear what other people said at other tables even you found they talk very loud. The tables are pretty close to each other too. This one has western style in the hall. Large traditional western-style paintings are hanging on the walls. It's a bit weird to me, the styles don't match simply. However, the dim sums taste good, love the pu-er tea which is good for digestion. Going to a Chinese restaurant for dim sums is called "Yum Cha" in Chinese.

Ferris Provincial Park and Peterborough Lift Lock

1st stop: Ferris Provincial Park

Ferris Provincial Park is in Campbellford, about 180km from the east of Toronto. If you park at the entrance and walk into the park, it's free. If you drive your car in the park, it charges at different rates depends on if you camp there. We went to Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge and walked across. I felt a bit scary when looked down to the river. I did this painting at the end of the bridge quickly as it was a pretty warm day.

Ranney George Suspension Bridge

From Ferris Provincial Park to Peterborough Lift Lock is about an hour ride. Here is a very tranquil river. Few people sat beside the river and chatted.

It is a boat lift located on the Trent Canal in the city of Peterborough and is Lock 21 on theTrent-Severn Waterway. The lock has two identical ship caissons (like bathtubs) in which vessels ascend and descend. Both caissons are enclosed at each end by pivoting gates, and there are pivoting gates at the upper and lower reaches of the canal at the junctions with the caissons. The gates on the caissons fit into slots on the gates on the reaches so that they open in unison.

We didn't see the either boat going up or down. Maybe it's not weekends.

Peterborough Lift Lock

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