Simple Greens – Back To Basics

Posted bydebirileyPosted inart, inspiration, nature, painting, watercolorsTags:, , , , , , ,
foliage greens, local natural colors used in paintings, mixing watercolor greens without mud, basics of color mixing foliage greens, debiriley.com

Watercolor, The Basics.

Color mixing. No wheel. Just 3 pure colors of loveliness……creating

“whispers of pale mint and greyed greens,

mist laden green foliage of zen.”

Yes.  I love color.

foliage greens, local natural colors used in paintings, mixing watercolor greens without mud, basics of color mixing foliage greens, debiriley.com
Basic Simple Watercolor Greens, debiriley.com

Simple Greens of Nature

What you need:

Cobalt pb28 + Winsor Lemon py175 + Permanent Rose pv19

3 paints +  a sense of fun, patience, serenity and keen sense of exploration is all it really takes to mix these greens.   I used Saunders Cold Press (100% cotton)  for its easy and smoothness of color blending.

Please see Foliage Greens for more green information.   Its a great article,  informative and very helpful.

 

Nature’s Environment

I created this small color chart of greens with my local environment in mind, thinking and remembering it.

 

As I go to paint, I select colors that will mix and create that scene.  That remembered color mood and atmosphere.

This is what I’ve always done, its just an automatic response at this stage.   Mimi Robinson the design artist is now making more people aware of this type of approach. Letting her groups of followers know about using the colors that are in our local environment. Those shades and hues, in our own natural living habitats.

This is a wonderful calm, natural approach I love. Which is why I so often go on my “zen strolls.”  I know I’ve said before, they are not meant to be walks or hikes.

But they’re leisurely strolls to fill the well of my inner creative artist.  To take my time.  To not rush in this one thing.

To fully engage and be in the moment.

To see.

To breathe deeply in fresh air.

Zen Strolls are life changing. But I digress.

 

 

Color Perfection or,  Essence

When I paint I don’t get bogged down or overly ‘stressed’ to  try to match the exact precise color to perfection.

I like to make sure the tonal values are correct, number one.

Then make sure the message and essence, The Spirit of the land  is somehow conveyed.

The  Feeling of the Land  is a post I think you’d enjoy a quick read through.

 

Color is … more of a ‘fluid’ living entity though for me.   As you perhaps have come to discover in many of my Color posts:

 Color is a Lure  

For Love of Color 

Colour Me Happy 

The “Red Dragon” Maple trees 

Touching the Mountain  

 

foggy greens in the natural environment, painting mixes from photographs, watercolor greens, debiriley.com
Foggy Greens in The Natural Environment
Desaturated Greens in the Fog

This photograph was taken on the rare, blue moon,  we saw fog  in our local suburb. A one off occurrence in the 8 years we’ve lived here.

 

It was quite early before the sun emerged.

Chill and damp. Rather bracing. Loved it!!

 

You may notice, that the angle of the photo is askew.

I’d kneeled down on the wet grass to try for the brighter green in the foreground to give way as the fog took control in the distance. It was so cold, I was shivering!

 

 

I think the photo achieved the subtle range of gentle, desaturated greens that I saw. Covered with a thin veil of fog, the colors softened, into greens of tranquility.

I can see the palest grey greens of the shrouded trees in back.

And the blanketed viridian umber meadow is there too.  So too is the veiled, lime grass green that is the foreground.

 

Simple Greens, back to basics.  I didn’t need ‘more.’

It was – enough.

 

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

23 thoughts on “Simple Greens – Back To Basics”

  3. i really love your simple approach to creating art, Debi! the simplicity of each painting gathers enough strength to make someone pause and look closely, to feel, to connect, to learn. what would be world be is this simplicity is also applied to life in general, i bet we will all be happier and more appreciative.

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  6. Debi, your colors and photograph caused me to want to step in the morning dew of the picture and lie down on the soothing pallet of green in the color squares. Peaceful. Thank you for sharing your vision with us.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Denise, thank you! I loved your comment 🙂 I’m happy to know that the post and the images did manage to convey the mood of peaceful serenity …. even as just those simple blocks of colored shapes. Fantastic! cheers, Debi

      Liked by 1 person

    1. good morning Miss M!! thank you very much 🙂 I think maybe this year I should get simple tattooed on me… ok. well, maybe not!! LOL But, for painting, its going to be a great idea 🙂 have a great rest of the week, with some zen strolls and painting! cheers, YRF

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Evelyn, you are so right! it is relaxing!! 🙂 and thank you very much, I appreciate your comments. the gentle greens just needed to be done, so it seemed. very calm and peaceful. thanks again! cheers, Debi

      Liked by 1 person

    1. absolutely! so helpful. and relaxing. and the information learned usually, sinks in so much better than just ‘reading’ about it LOL cheers, and thank you!! Debi

      Liked by 1 person

    1. hi Carol! and thank you for your very kind comments 🙂
      It is quite a difficult thing to do for most of us. We have been trained, conditioned, to be busy, busy. Busy! to produce, to accomplish. to ….not rest, or ‘relax’ actually. So, it is with great difficulty, that we begin something that asks of us to be still. To pause, to relax. And – it remains a challenge 🙂 cheers, Debi

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