Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The friendly dogs and birds

In this Moleskine watercolour sketchbook I put some colour on the page, in this case a double page. Then I leave it alone for some time, until it has dried or a day or more, depends on what else has to be done.

When I come back and look at page, all sorts of beings are waiting for their bodies to be outlined, their face to be shaped, their eyes to be opened... (click to open)


PREENING BIRDS




THE FRIENDLY DOG

"They [dogs] never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation." - Jerome K. Jerome

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19 comments:

Jill Smith said...

Love the blue birds Andrea, reminds me of being a birder when l lived in Scotland saw all sorts that had got lost but never so beautiful as your blue ones. I think i am going to paint some colour on my moleskin and see what happens, it will brighten it up as its all pencil drawings.

Unknown said...

Jill, so you lived in Scotland, I've never been there but would love to go, I imagine it wild..
And yes, do paint colour on, it always does what it wants and gives us ideas about what it wants to be:)
love
Andrea
PS, anatomically speaking these birds are weird, I know, but I guess that does not matter...

Andrea and Kim said...

Hi Andrea!

These are really great! Wow! I love the way you do that! I think when I try to do those things I over do it with the paint! I am not sure...

Both of these are really wonderful and the quote about dogs is so very true! The ones we have had have always been very attentive to us!

Thanks Andrea!

sukipoet said...

Dear andrea. thank you for letting us in on the secret technique for making these paintings. I may try that. I love the birds communing on the branch. The dog is so funny as is the quote, it makes me chuckle. I'm not a dog person but sometimes I wish I was (they are so much more work than cats).

Have a lovely day. We are having lots of Paris rain here monday and tuesday. Brrr.

debra said...

Art does happen, doesn't it. We need to quietly watch and we will know what to do.

Unknown said...

Kim, yes I wish I could have a dog but living in the big city with someone who doesn't appreciate them as much as I do...that would NOT be wise:)
One always risks to overdo watercolour. In my experience that is what makes them somehow difficult. I know this "wanting to put more paint on" thing very well:)

Unknown said...

Suki, yes, dogs are great fun and yes, cats do not have to be walked and need a bit less attention (although I have know cats who were very needy:)
but dogs can be so funny! Best thing is to have both, :)

Unknown said...

Debra, yes, that is the way, the best things happen.

Paula In Pinetop said...

I love those birds on a wire.

I notice great flocks of them lined up on wires as I drive to work. My husband and I always joke about them being the "coffee club" getting together for their morning gossip session.

Unknown said...

Paula! Your comment about the "coffee club" of birds sitting on the wire: That's what I had in mind when drawing these birds around their blotches:) In autumn, where my parents live, sometimes there are hundreds of them sitting on a wire, chatting, heading for the South. And they make a big noise, too:)

Karen Smithey said...

So you make the 'blotches' and then look for pictures in them once they're dry? That sounds so fun! I'm going to have to try it, maybe with my two girls. They'll like that.

Anonymous said...

Love those birds Andrea, those are really cool. And the dog is too sweet, I love dogs!

Unknown said...

Karen: yes it is like when you look at clouds, you know? Seeing those beasts, or simply sheeps or faces:)

Unknown said...

Sue, thanks, I love dogs too, wish I could have one, but Oscar the cat will do for now:)

Andrea and Kim said...

Andrea, you are so encouraging! So I need to tell myself...pull-back! Watercolors are brutally difficult, in my mind! I think I am also a bit to "slap-happy" (meaning to throw paint or something like it around too much and making a mess). Do you know this slang?

Dogs...well, I guess we will be finding ourselves with a puppy in the house in the near future...my son really wants one and deserves one! :) The other guy who lives here loves dogs, but will do the loudest complaining! So I hear you, my friend!

Corryna said...

Lovely birds! And I also like your painting of the under water world.

Corryna

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

These are really charming Andrea. Your imagination amazes me. You SEE so much more then some do.
I am not sure I would see what you see. I have Both, Cats, plural & dog, singular. and I love them both. With Dogs if you call they come right now. With a cat they make you take a number & get back to you. lol

Katiejane said...

Andrea, you are so good at making something out of nothing! I could learn a lot from you.

I'm so glad you liked the flower show. The Coney Island that Van Morrison sings about, however, is in New York City. I don't really know why this one is named Coney too.

Certainly you can come sit on my porch. I wish I could round you all up and we'll have a tea party. Wouldn't that be fun?

human being said...

both are lovely... one reminding us of our love for freedom... and the other one of our responsibilities...