Blue Monday

Posted bydebirileyPosted inart, color, nature, painting, watercolorsTags:, , , , , , ,
Staining watercolor paints, prussian blue pb27, Impressionist watercolor landscape mountain, granulating paint manganese blue, cerulean blue, debi riley watercolor, debiriley.com

Blue watercolor mountain. But no Mt. Everest!

Gorgeous Blue paints – Cobalt teal blue, Cerulean, Prussian blue. Trifecta.

Perfect for blue Monday.

I’m not feeling down, but am feeling like ‘blue’ today.

 

prussian blue pb27, watercolor landscape mountain, cerulean blue, debi riley watercolor, debiriley.com
Mountain Prussian Blue watercolors debiriley.com

 

Semi Abstract in Blue

This contemporary style, large full sheet watercolor is what I’d label “semi abstract landscape.”

 

Its not abstract. Yet, its by no means photorealism or traditional.  I can clearly identify that there is a sky, the peak of a mountain, mountain slopes, and some small tree shapes.

Nothing is Super hard edged or ultra defined. Nothing is specifically, precisely all spelled out for the viewer.

But, instead….. the viewer needs to Engage.  To enter into the painting to look further.

 

 

Repurposed

I’ve repurposed this watercolor.

Created some time ago, most of you haven’t seen it. But some may have.

I do love this one. It is one of my personal favorites.

Large and with a freedom of expression.  I allowed the paint to do its thing. And then, I went along.

 

 

Inspiring 

It was inspiring.  Inspiration is Everything,  for me!

No Mt. Everest, no Goddess of the Sky. But a quieter, gentler softer version that soothes the soul.

And answers the call.  Answers the question put to her.

Fulfills the Quest.

 

So, yes.  I was and am satisfied.

Content  in that.

Contentedness – is a wonderful place to aim for. Especially, in watercolors. The pursuit of ‘happiness’  did not fulfill the quest.  This is a good point for Beginner Watercolorists to remember.

I feel there to be a vast difference between those two in watercolors. The pursuing of ‘Happiness’ and the aiming for the place of Contentedness.

 

Did I mention I was a zen master? No? oops. I must have forgot! …… Just kidding!! I know Miss Eva might think so, though.

 

 

 

 

Fine Day For Blue

This Monday morning, is a Fine Day!

Its a ‘Blue’ Day. Blue is such a delightful, enchanting color with its beautiful tones and sheer number of color ranges available. I’m hooked on Blue.  The colors of blue can express and convey so much feeling!

 

An artist, can never, ever, have too many blue paints.

 

 

I enthusiastically, suggest these:

  • Cobalt blue pb28
  • Ultramarine blue pb29
  • Prussian blue pb27
  • Cerulean blue pb33
  • Phalo blue pb15
  • Indanthrone blue pb60
  • Indigo (specialty mix)  By  Daniel Smith watercolors only

 

**look on the tube label for the identifying number, if it does not say pb28 – It is NOT really Cobalt!

 

 

 

Did you know,  that if you have 5 of these blues and just 2 yellows

(Winsor Lemon and Naples Yellow)  your ability to mix a near Limitless and Stunning…. array of Greens is Amazing!!

You do NOT  need to buy any green paints from the art shops at all. Save money and get better depth, perspective, form, image unification.  Just by mixing your greens.  

 

Did you know…. that you can create delicious unique Blue Blends for yourself?   Try mixing 3 of the blues together and see if you like that mix.   Then try another grouping.

 

 

 

 

Blue  Monday Watercolor Mountain tips

 

Blue.  Isn’t always about being ‘down.’   Its a pleasant,  happy color too!

 

  • Go for broke!  go full sheet  22x 30 inches
  • Deliberately ‘edge’ the paper with paint
  • Try for a High Key, ie Light dominant painting  80%
  • Monochromatic palettes, can be more successful
  • Allow paint, to drip and run in random free ways
  • Turn your reference photo over
  • Better yet, put it back in that closet
  • Use your memory and ‘feelings’ of the place to capture Its spark
  • the Final image does Not – “have to be Perfect”
  • Convey, express a message or mood or Feeling
  • Image needs to be real, authentic. original.
  • and yes, sometimes,  ‘messy’

 

 

 

blue paint pigments, debiriley.com
paint pigments:  Ultramarine Blue,   Cobalt, Manganese,  Prussian blue,  and a green terre verte…  debiriley.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published by debiriley

The act of creation, in any media is a fascinating and magical process. I simply love to create. Expressing in color, line, tone, texture - as if, they were words upon a page. Creating a uniquely me, interpretation. Enjoy More of my "one-of-a-kind" expressive art at society6.com/debiriley and, redbubble.com/people/debijriley/shop

29 thoughts on “Blue Monday”

  3. Love your Prussian Mountain. 22″ x 30″ it will be. Thanks for the push Debi 🙂 I think I’ll let lose with the ink stone and see what happens. Since it’s still Sunday here, tomorrow will be my not so blue Monday. I love your exhortation to be “authentic, original, messy and not perfect” – which really means you can’t to wrong. Wonderful 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I feel for you Miss M. hoping you get some R and R. some good book time and some just M, time. with your Spirit…. I’d say you’d bounce back like a fox terrier on a trampoline!! ready to go get’em. lol
      sometimes; I just have to stop ‘painting’ – and do a few days of nothing but playful color mixes to relax and chill.
      And totally *Banish the word, the need, the thought, impulse to ‘Produce.’ thinking Good Thoughts, hugs. Debi

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi EVA – SMILING now!! glad to ‘see’ you. well hear from you. lol thank you!
      hoping you are having a zen weekend and playing around with artsy creative things 🙂 cheers + hugs, Debi

      Liked by 1 person

      3. All that and more, the area where I went over the weekend is super humid this time of the year and that makes up for a fantastic overgrown “jungle”. I’m posting them on my personal Facebook page because I have to share it, it is too beautiful not to.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Sure you can if you wish. If you have a Facebook site I will or you can ask for a friend request. I do have two accounts one is for my art and the other is my personal where I keep in touch with friends and family and that is the one where I post or try to as often as I can my photos of nature and such. See ya over there! Hugs.

        Liked by 1 person

      7. I found your art site FB. but no forest pics. may need info to get there/to do friend request. and my friends/family FB one is Debi Riley…. I also post more nature, and ‘other’ things – so for sure go there! Debi

        Liked by 1 person

      8. I checked yesterday and send a friend request to your personal site, I’m posting more of nature as well on my personal site, I have a lot of photos but as you know I stopped posting for some time and I just started recently to get back to some normal schedule. Life just happened and I’m still struggling but trying to get back into my life some sort of a balance. I will go again today and look at FB page. Hugs~Eva

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  7. Beautiful painting Debi and blue is one of my favorite color! ❤ I just love everything about this painting, the loose washes created the perfect shades of blue love the "abstract-realism" just made a new terminology here 😉 and thanks for the drops of Zen ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. thanks Caroline, I’m so glad you liked the blue zen mountain! abstracts, so often as you know – are actually – realism. just super close up, or from really far away. So you’re spot on with the ‘Abstract-Realism’ term! lol

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Beautiful way to celebrate “Blue” Monday ~ wonderful feel to this scene. The information on color mixing greens is great and I’ll keep it for reference. Thanks for always sharing your incredible wealth of knowledge and encouragement to go big and free.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. good morning Mary! thank you.
      I appreciate your comments and I’m glad that some of the information can be useful to you !! 🙂
      I paint both in tiny wee miniatures… right up to full sheets, and larger. Depending on the season.
      I always feel, restored. Reinvigorated, When I paint super large. It is so free. so expressive. Cheers, Debi

      Liked by 1 person

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