Thursday, November 17, 2011

Cartoonish watercolors

Several weeks ago, I attempted a sketch in just pen and ink and, while i clearly have a lot to learn, I managed to stop myself from going to the next step and applying color.  last weekend, I tried again in simple black and white.  Unfortunately, I couldn't stop myself and today, I decided to pull out the old watercolors in an attempt to give it more life. 


For some reason, I seem incapable of adding color without making it look like a cartoon sketch.   I just love, love, love lots of color.  Maybe I just need to steer clear of trying to paint realistic landscapes with color.  Hmmm...  I'm so envious of people who can carry their sketchbooks with them and recreate the world around them so effortlessly. 

Don't forget to head over to paint part Friday for brilliant inspiration

33 comments:

  1. I don't think you are giving yourself enough credit. I love it!

    xox

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  2. I don't think it looks like a cartoon, it's whimsical and colorful. I do understand the part about not being able to stop, since I do the same lol

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  3. I love bright colors and I love your sketches. :) Nothing wrong with them, it's your style. :)

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  4. Loving your style. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  5. The world around us does not have a single color and a single form, depends on the eyes of the beholder and you reflect what you see and as you see it, and is simple and beautiful. Saludos

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  6. I think it's a kick ass effort! And I don't think it's cartoony--it's stylized. :)

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  7. We are always our own worst critic.
    I really like this, and the word "cartoony" never crossed my mind.

    I'm glad you took the leap and applied color! :)

    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  8. Yes, we are our VERY OWN WORST CRITIQUE!

    I think this looks like you have been painting and drawing for ages! You have something special going one here.. and I love it.
    xo Darlene

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  9. It's beautiful in colour and I love your work!

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  10. This is lovely! Nothing cartoonish about it ~ Great! ~~ Thanks, namaste, Carol ~ (Share the Creative Journey) Happy PPF ^_^

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  11. It's great and not cartoonish at all. I'd love to be there walking and looking at the water and peeking around to see who lives over in that 8 window home on stilts. Very nice. Happy PPF!

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  12. Miss Molly I hate those people who carry around their sketchbooks and just whip up these amazing little sketches, of course this may be jealousy talking, in fact it is definitely jealousy, so maybe hate is a bit strong but ... I sooo can't do that and I would need to carry a suitcase everywhere because I just can't do with out colour... I love your colour addition and I don't think it is cartoonish... it is fresh and lovely xx

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  13. Hi there, I can so relate to this post! :0) I am a massive fan of colour too and I can't help but put loads of it in there! :0) I really love your colourful piece! I think it gives it a personality and style of it's own! :0)

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  14. I think your style is just beautiful. Sometimes just a bit of color like you've done here is just enough.

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  15. Love your colors, nice and vibrant! Who said art had to be totally in realistic color anyway, we can take our artistic license and use whatever colors we want!

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  16. I love your style! The colors are wonderful :0)

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  17. This is simply lovely and didn't make me think cartoon a bit! ~Happy Paint Party Friday! #9 Robin Panzer Art Studio 33

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  18. When I looked at that I didn't see cartoonish at all! I think it looks great. I wish I could sketch like that!!

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  19. I think this is wonderful - I love color too and yours are great! I don't think it looks like a cartoon... It looks effortless to me :)

    xo
    Kristin

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  20. I think you've done a wonderful job here and you're being way too hard on yourself. If anything, it brings to mind an architectural style rendering to me -- which is a style that always blows me away.

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  21. It doesn't look cartoonish. Lovely! And great job on the perspective.

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  22. I know what you mean when you say that - I feel like some of my paintings have a paint-by-number look, but no one else sees that.

    I don't think your painting looks cartoonish - I think it's lovely :)

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  23. I think it looks fabulous with color! I tried recently to do something in black and white only and I couldn't do it - it had to have color. I just love color so much right now!

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  24. Looks pretty darn good to me. Give yourself a pat on the back.

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  25. this looks great to me and i think the loose strokes keep it from looking cartoonish. thanks for sharing!
    hugs,
    peggy aplSEEDS

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  26. It's a great sketch
    I like your color, but looking at it, I bet its your palette- what brand of paint do you use?
    I think the colors in the cotman and artist quality windsor newton look more real to life than koi, for example
    paper is another thing to consider in terms of the paper accepting the color- for example i love some strathmore products, others leave an unrealistic look, while though i like moleskin watercolor - it can leave things cartoonish
    (sorry if you knew all i can be too didactic at times)
    p.s - thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  27. Molly, we have a lot in common. Your opinion of your lovely drawing/painting is what I say over and over about my own, only I use the term "illustration" instead of "cartoon". I think we have to get used to the fact that we have our own unique style, all artists do. Some will be photorealistic, others abstract, some illustrations, etc. The fact that most people want things to look like photos makes it hard for those of us who don't paint that way. Second, I also live on the east coast (Richmond) and my colored leaves have left. Keep up the good work and paint for your own enjoyment. Life's too short to try to please everyone. Faye

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  28. I love color too. I think this looks like a beautiful watercolor sketch to me. It reminds me of Joe Miller's style.

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  29. I like this colourful version too. I love colours too :)

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  30. I'm with you - I love the addition of color too - just brings it all to life! This is a beautiful piece, I love what you've done! xo

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  31. I don't think it looks cartoony at all. I like it a lot!

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