Day: July 2, 2016

For this week’s Photo Challenge: Opposites Ben invites us to “show how opposites can tell a story about people, places, or objects. The tension can reside in what you choose to show — old vs. new, big vs. small, dark vs. light — or in how you frame and design your shot.

 

loti2v

 

In this photo of the work table in my studio, which I think meets Ben’s criteria, the two watercolour paintings opposite each other are of different views of the McDowell Sonoran Reserve in Arizona. I have also submitted this today as part of a post for Worldwatercolor month under the title “Be your own painter,” where you can read more about the story behind the title.

“Be your own painter…”

Scotsdale i

Arizona remembered I  2.7.16

The title of today’s post is taken from Tony Smibert’s quote in Exercise 3 of Landscapes of the Imagination, which I am working through this month, “Be your own painter and adapt what you want to your own work”. This exercise is all about graduated washes and includes maneuvering the board upside-down as the secondary washes are applied.

loti 2i   loti2ii

loti2iii   loti2iv

The quote was all the inspiration I needed to apply the exercise to memories of our memorable trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, where we stopped before continuing on to that never-to-be-forgotten visit to Antelope Canyon.

loti2v

That night we walked on the McDowell Sonoran Reserve after sunset where the Saguaro cacti were dramatically silhouetted against the evening sky. It was thanks to Laura Macky that we included this in our visit and her wonderful post Painted Saguaro is one that I recommend you all visit. Thanks once again Laura 🙂

Scotsdale iii

Arizona remembered II 2.7.16

 Worldwatercolormonth Day 2