October 16, watercolor

.

Looking at all the leaves, I've been wanting to play with color and watercolor.

On the 16th, one of my old friends and I made a pact to be a mutual kick-in-the-pants society, and start playing with art materials.

I really don't want to acquire more art supplies, unless I am really going to use them.

Beginning with cheap kiddy watercolor. I thought I had some good watercolor paper, but couldn't find it. This is something very like cardstock.

The paper buckled and soaked up all the water, so I couldn't do things like drop paint in a wet field.

I liked the squares of pretty colors, but hated the squares with mixed colors.....

So I decided to do the part I liked, and just see if I could mix with paint the colors I saw in the leaf.

Happy with this.

The next day, when it was dry.  Not happy with these colors -- way too pale and washed out.  And -- the colors look different.  As though the color changed as it dried.  I am thinking this has to be a function of the cheap paint and/or paper.  I have never heard anyone who worked in watercolor breathe a hint that the colors *change* as they dry.....  (How on earth could you paint with colors that are different when they are dry???)

.