The Effect of Color

"Bridges of Memorial Park, Winter", watercolor on paper, 7x9, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

It's funny, I started this painting on a blazing hot day this past summer from a photo I took last winter.  Hoping I could cool myself by diving into a cold, winter scene.  Planning and expecting to paint with cool blues dominating.  But, hard as I tried I kept being drawn to the spots of warm morning sunlight hitting and reflecting under the bridge. And, they kept getting hotter and hotter.

My frustration was growing as my cool blue, icy snow painting was radiating heat... and yellows, golds and oranges started to dominate.

I abandoned ship (or bridge) about 3/4 the way through this painting - disgruntled.  Annoyed that I could not consciously control my color choices.  The outside temps of 100 had taken over.  So I walked away, and found a spot in front of the air conditioner with a pencil and sketchbook.  (no color to control or be controlled with an HB pencil)

My husband hoped I would finish it - he loved what was developing.  But, I put it away so it couldn't taunt me... making it clear the heat was winning!

I took it out this week because I wanted to free up the watercolor block it was on.  I had a choice - to slice it off the block unfinished and consider it a loss, or actually complete it.  I chose to finish, realizing that the snow outside my window was going to assist me.  

It did! Thank you!

I left the 'heat' of the painting exactly as it was created during the summer... but was able to finish the cool snow and shadows as I had originally intended.  

I am happy with the results, but stand amazed at how much the weather, the light, and the color around me effect what I create!

Monday Inspiration - Fall Harvest, Tomatoes

Ah - tomatoes!  I look forward to the late summer, early autumn just for them.   And, I could eat them at every meal so I took this photo as soon as I could - before they were gone.  They are sneak preview of leaf colors that we will see as we move deeper into the Fall.


The colors are simply gorgeous - vivid, inspiring and bottomless.


So as with all my visual obsessions... I have to paint them.  I painted this basket of tomatoes a few years back.  And my biggest challenge was the depth and vibrancy of the color - that color goes beyond red!  I used layers and layers of glazed color, many of which were lemon yellow, to achieve the luminosity.

"Fruit of the Gods" watercolor on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

The original painting hangs in my kitchen bringing me a vivid reminder of those stunning colors year round. 

Inspiration Monday - Crayons

Crayons! 

They were my favorite as a child... I can still remember when I got my first box of 64!  with-a-built-in-sharpener AND everything!!!!  I think I felt the earth move that day!  And, how I treasured that box of umlimited possiblities.  Color galore.  Brings happy tears to my eyes.

Crayons still make me a little giddy. And, happily my 5 year old daughter loves to color and craft. We spend many an hour coloring side by side.  I with my (well, technically they are hers) crayons, her with her markers... which are her favorite. Who knows... maybe years from now she will be writing almost the same thoughts about markers! :)
I also now work out color schemes of paintings while I color with my girl.  I'll scan my black and white drawing, print out a few copies, and experiment with crayons.

When is the last time you played with crayons? grabbed a handful and went crazy with color and abandon?
Go ahead... take a fistful, take a deep breath of that glorious crayony smell --- and go create something fun and wonderful.  That's were I'm headed now....