Watercolor Subjects

[Anniesantiago]

I am headed for the desert for the winter and would love to do a series of watercolors based on the Camino. Does anyone have a favorite photo or memory that might be fun to paint?

 

[SYates]

Your own? How can you paint somebody elses experiences? Buen Camino and Happy Creating, SY

PS I would give anything for a desert retreat just now ...

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

so00ooo0000 envious (this is my teeth clenched envious emoticon)

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

I've thought about this a bit while planting between showers
if I were headed to the desert, I'd paint that
otherwise, if I had a talent for art (which my twin got, not me)
--I'd paint a quiet street at sunrise, with cobblestones and a bike leaned against the wall and bread hung on the door, and mist hugging the ground, after you've climbed over a convent wall to get out before offical opening times
--I'd paint candles glowing in a small forgotten chapel, and a tired, over-worked priest hearing one last confession before his long journey home
--I'd paint a veteran, hugging the back wall of a church they don't feel quite right entering, taking a knee on the stone floor during Mass, pack on their back as they are used to doing in field services
--I'd paint a newly formed Camino couple full of the thought of love that may not last the separation...or may make a love that will last forever
--I'd paint a credential full of sellos, overlaid with the faces I've met along the way
--I'd paint Roncesvalles at sunset and the cruz de ferro at sunrise and the foggy morning view from the monastery at ziortza and all the beaches of the Norte
--I'd paint the horses and cattle on the Hospitales, and the view above the clouds at the abandoned hospital Montouto...
I am truly in awe of your ability to create

edit: rain showers while in my garden, not any other sort....even if I do my best thinking in the other sort

 

[JennyH94]

Hi Annie -

It's so kind and thoughtful of you to do some watercolours using photos which are special to other Forum members.

I love the Camino waymarkers - I love wondering about the stories behind the stones placed on most of the waymarkers. Who placed those stones? Why? How long have they been there and how long will they remain there?

I first saw the waymarker which features in the photo back in 2012. It was beautiful. I loved its weathered appearance and I wondered how old it was. It's located just as one walks into Astorga, at the edge of a field and opposite the derelict industrial building complex. I revisited the waymarker twice in 2014, just before and just after volunteering at Refugio Gaucelmo in Rabanal. I took this photo on the second visit, after the volunteership.

Here's the photo -



How fantastic to be heading out to the desert for the winter! The colours that you'll see! When I think of the American deserts I think of the art of the incomparable Georgia O'Keeffe - her paintings of the desert in New Mexico, where she lived for so many years - are a source of inspiration and appreciation for her artistic genius. Have a very special time out in the desert, Annie.

Buen Artistic Camino - and peaceful days. I hope that you receive a wonderful range of photos from Forum members.

May the disappointment of your Camino this year fade away and may you find joy through your art.

Best wishes - Jenny

 

[JennyH94]

I've thought about this a bit while planting between showers
if I were headed to the desert, I'd paint that
otherwise, if I had a talent for art (which my twin got, not me)
--I'd paint a quiet street at sunrise, with cobblestones and a bike leaned against the wall and bread hung on the door, and mist hugging the ground, after you've climbed over a convent wall to get out before offical opening times
--I'd paint candles glowing in a small forgotten chapel, and a tired, over-worked priest hearing one last confession before his long journey home
--I'd paint a veteran, hugging the back wall of a church they don't feel quite right entering, taking a knee on the stone floor during Mass, pack on their back as they are used to doing in field services
--I'd paint a newly formed Camino couple full of the thought of love that may not last the separation...or may make a love that will last forever
--I'd paint a credential full of sellos, overlaid with the faces I've met along the way
--I'd paint Roncesvalles at sunset and the cruz de ferro at sunrise and the foggy morning view from the monastery at ziortza and all the beaches of the Norte
--I'd paint the horses and cattle on the Hospitales, and the view above the clouds at the abandoned hospital Montouto...
I am truly in awe of your ability to create

edit: rain showers while in my garden, not any other sort....even if I do my best thinking in the other sort

Smallest_Sparrow ... sometimes on the Forum I see a post which absolutely blows me away with its brilliance and depth of feeling ... your post has done exactly that today. Thank you.
Annie ... thank you so much for posting the thread. If Smallest_Sparrow's post is any indication for what may come, I think Forum members are in for a very special and significant thread.
Cheers to you both - Jenny

 

[Anniesantiago]

You should write!

 

[JennyH94]

You should write!

I agree Annie! Smallest_Sparrow should write!
Cheers - Jenny

 

[Anniesantiago]

I do have my own memories but I paint best from a photo. I'm not good enough to paint from memory.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

there are lots of good pics on the random selection I see every time I log on...you could pm the photographers...I don't know if any I took would be worth turning into art...i suppose I could post some....another thought I had would be a series of different nature type setting that have arrows, like those that are painted on trees, sea walls, etc. ... pictures that are pretty by themselves, but contain an arrow or scallop

painting from pictures is still amazing! I wish I could do it

 

[Anniesantiago]

I didn't think about going through the photos here. Doh! ::::slaps her forehead:::

 

[Pong]

Your own? How can you paint somebody elses experiences? Buen Camino and Happy Creating, SY

PS I would give anything for a desert retreat just now ...

Not everyone takes good photos (though this is not the case for Annie, as anyone checking her blog can see). My photos are meaningful to me, but most are not particularly beautiful or "paint worthy". However, if I painted a scene inspired by someone else's picture, I would not be painting their experience, but using their photo as a way of expressing my own. Have a good winter Annie.

 

[Tia Valeria]

I do have my own memories but I paint best from a photo. I'm not good enough to paint from memory.

It would be great to feel that some of our photos had inspired your painting. Find a photo that speaks to you and then when you post it you could say from "..'s" photo. Have a good time in the desert - you might even paint something there too.

 

[Mike Savage]

Annie,

You may find one on my website that you would like to paint. Check the Landscape and Panorama sections.

Mike

 

[Anniesantiago]

Annie,

You may find one on my website that you would like to paint. Check the Landscape and Panorama sections.

Mike

Oooooooooooooooooooh!
Brilliant!

Your photos are just spectacular!
Why am I just now seeing them?

 

[Pong]

Annie,

You may find one on my website that you would like to paint. Check the Landscape and Panorama sections.

Mike

Wow! Your photographs are gorgeous. Makes me want to paint too!

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

Annie,

You may find one on my website that you would like to paint. Check the Landscape and Panorama sections.

Mike

I'm speechless (that's a first) at the beauty of your work

 

[SabsP]

Annie,

You may find one on my website that you would like to paint. Check the Landscape and Panorama sections.

Mike

Wow. Just wow!

 

[JennyH94]

Annie,

You may find one on my website that you would like to paint. Check the Landscape and Panorama sections.

Mike

Such beautiful photography, Mike. Thank you for sharing the link with Forum members.
Cheeers - Jenny

 

[Bala]

Annie,

You may find one on my website that you would like to paint. Check the Landscape and Panorama sections.

Mike

Absolutely beautiful!!! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!

 

[Mike Savage]

Thank you all so much. I am overwhelmed at your generous comments. Everywhere I look I see beauty and try to capture it through photography.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Thank you all so much. I am overwhelmed at your generous comments. Everywhere I look I see beauty and try to capture it through photography.

The thing that rocked me was the Lynx, during daylight! Getting a picture of any wild cat is a blessing. Thank you for the great work!
Keith

 

[wayfarer]

Thank you Annie, attached is one of my favourites from 2012.

 

[JennyH94]

Thank you Annie, attached is one of my favourites from 2012.

View attachment 29685

What a beautiful photo Pat - is it in the Pamplona/Logrono area? Not having walked this part of the Camino I'd be interested to know.
Cheers - Jenny

 

[Saint Mike II]

What a beautiful photo Pat - is it in the Pamplona/Logrono area? Not having walked this part of the Camino I'd be interested to know.
Cheers - Jenny

No Jenny -that is the view looking back towards Castrojeriz. Its about 2/3 of way up. I agree its a great photo. M

 

[wayfarer]

What a beautiful photo Pat - is it in the Pamplona/Logrono area? Not having walked this part of the Camino I'd be interested to know.
Cheers - Jenny

Thank you Jenny. As Mike says, its about half way up Alto de Mostelares and looking back towards Castrojeriz.
Attached is the photo coming from Hontanas and looking forward towards Castrojeriz. As you can see, everything is green, as it early May 2012, I have seen photos on here where everything is brown, as they were taken later in summer. Its a beautiful place.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Thanks @wayfarer I am to be starting from St Jean on May 2 or 3 (2017) so hopefully it will be this green then. It was awfully brown in Sept 2015. Some of the Spring photos are so green its almost impossible to believe its the same country. Cheers

 

[Nonnieto9]

I am headed for the desert for the winter and would love to do a series of watercolors based on the Camino. Does anyone have a favorite photo or memory that might be fun to paint?

 

[Cynthia Knapp]

Thank you Jenny. As Mike says, its about half way up Alto de Mostelares and looking back towards Castrojeriz.
Attached is the photo coming from Hontanas and looking forward towards Castrojeriz. As you can see, everything is green, as it early May 2012, I have seen photos on here where everything is brown, as they were taken later in summer. Its a beautiful place.

View attachment 29715

Oh I so loved that part of the Way. Actually, I loved it all!

 

[Nanc]

Not a photographer like Mike. Not even close but these evoke a feeling esp the dogs looking out the door
N

 

[Pong]

View attachment 29784

I really like this photo. Any idea where?

 

[mspath]

I really like this photo. Any idea where?

Pong,
The photo is shot looking west along the Camino Frances which follows the rue de La Citadelle in Saint Jean Pied de Port, France.

 

[Pong]

Thank you. I started the CF in Pamplona so was not privileged to see that particular view.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Well, I just settled into the desert for the winter. I haven't begun any Camino watercolor paintings yet, but did finish this one of my son's dog, Data, recently. I painted it from a photo I took one morning when he was gazing out the window. The original photo is also attached. I really enjoy doing this type of realistic painting. It's easier for me than the "loose" styles - probably my Type A Personality!

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

Pong,
The photo is shot looking west along the Camino Frances which follows the rue de La Citadelle in Saint Jean Pied de Port, France.

in fact, it is (I believe) taken standing in front of what was L'Esprit du Chemin, now Beilari...

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

Well, I just settled into the desert for the winter. I haven't begun any Camino watercolor paintings yet, but did finish this one of my son's dog, Data, recently. I painted it from a photo I took one morning when he was gazing out the window. The original photo is also attached. I really enjoy doing this type of realistic painting. It's easier for me than the "loose" styles - probably my Type A Personality! View attachment 30179

amazing. So beautiful. I am so envious...this is my envy emoticon

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

Disclosure: Among many other things, I am a watercolour artist

Critique: @Anniesantiago - brilliant composition and capture of the moment and the eye is perfectly rendered. Not an easy medium to work in but my favourite as you work from light to dark.