Tag: watercolors

Banshee’s Wail | Watercolour Painting

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A CONFOUNDING PIECE

Hello everyone. I’ve finally had the chance to get this one scanned and uploaded. My latest painting Banshee’s Wail, taking on themes of Irish folklore. This year has been a roller-coaster ride of emotions in terms of development of artwork and style. Taking this piece for example. What started off as an idea I couldn’t wait to get on paper, transformed into a drawing I really liked, and then the initial excitement petered off. Any other artists out there who can’t stay on an artwork for too long? In the end I was satisfied having accomplished somewhat of what I had imagined in my head. I’ve found the best remedy in these situations is to just move on and create more. So off to a new drawing I’ve been working on…and of which I’m enjoying far more than the process of this painting. I think after a little self analyzing it’s come down to missing incorporating some design elements I used to love doing. Let me know what you guys think and feel free to share your own experiences; I love chatting with you all. As always thanks for stopping by the blog, and hope you are all well!

Banshee’s Wail, watercolours, 8.25×10.75″, 2021

Original now available artofshaima.bigcartel.com

NEW METHODS

If there was one takeaway from this painting, it was through the preliminary stages of the piece. I’ve been trying out a different way of developing the initial drawings for the transfer stage. I usually just go the regular route and add in elements, erase, add some more. With this method I’d be transferring each individual element/figure one at a time from tracing paper onto the final sheet. The idea is to eliminate the need to erase parts of a perfectly good drawing in the vicinity of another piece being added to the artwork. Personally what tends to happen when trying to overlay other figures and objects, is the sheer number of unavoidable adjustments; trying to get the face, anatomy, flora, etc. just right. I’m not sure I’ll use this technique for all future work, but it seems useful at the moment for pattern and graphic elements, or in the case of this painting for sheer and translucent subjects. A lovely follower on Instagram referred to it as “analog Photoshop layers” which hadn’t occurred to me till now; a fun way to look at it nonetheless.

A Slow May – WIP & New Minis

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Although my head’s buzzing with ideas at the moment, this month has been rather slower than I would have liked. I had been struggling with the usual artist block, which returning meant too many ideas all at once. 😫

In hopes of improving whilst simultaneously creating new artwork, I’ve decided to do a bunch of these mini drawings. Keep an eye out in the shop if you’re looking to purchase any of these upcoming small originals. 🙂

Sight, markers/microns on paper, 6×8″, 2020

watercolour painting, wip.

A little peak at a new watercolour painting I’ve been working on.

Wind Waker – Watercolour Painting

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Wind Waker_03_Shaima

First finished painting of 2020. I usually get impatient to finish a piece as it nears the end, because at that point my head’s already full of ideas I want to get on paper for the next project. 😅 I’ve also felt the urge recently to get back into acrylics again or perhaps trying gouache. Funnily enough watercolours used to be my weakest medium, as I used acrylics for most projects in high school & uni. As I got irritated with being forced to do modern/minimal/abstract art at the time, I switched over and never really went back. Although…I can already feel the dread thinking about everything I’ve forgotten about the medium.

Shop Update

This one will be up in the shop soon, but I’ve been thinking of switching my originals directly onto this site for a while now. I’ve used other websites before, but I’d like to eventually get everything on here. Just a heads up if you see a change in the shop section (although it’ll be as basic as it gets for now).

Wind Waker_2020_Shaima
Wind Waker, watercolours, 8×10″, 2020

First Spell – Watercolour Painting Sept.

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21.09.2019(2)_Shaima

With this painting I really wanted to continue with the fantasy elements, but also get back to the study of sheer fabrics that I enjoyed when painting Call of the Sirens. Fabrics are always intimidating for me, because if it’s sheer or even satin let’s say…well for the most part you only get one chance to get it right with watercolours. Too much paint can mess up the piece real fast, and finding how light and skin works in whole equation is another thing altogether. I’m still learning by studying from the masters, by looking at many classical paintings; ranging from Regency to Edwardian. Although, I have to find a way to adapt those techniques from oils to watercolours, which is a fun challenge.

First Spell_2019_Shaima
First Spell, watercolours on paper, 8×12″, 2019

I liked the look of the early stages of the painting as well, making a note to experiment with even less paint in future projects. Sometimes I find it a bit hard to judge how dark I need to make a watercolour painting; as most artists in this medium will know, scanning the artwork doesn’t always get you the most flattering results in the end. There’s a certain grey/dark tone or evenness I like to achieve (which I’m not doing a good job explaining unfortunately), and scanners mess it up royally with its bright light giving unwanted contrasts across the painting. I’m lucky to have a good Epson scanner, but there are some things that can’t be fixed and I do my best with Photoshop in the end. 😄

18.09.2019_Shaima

22.09.2019(2)_Shaima
Original available at the shop.

WIP.

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*Update on In Fate’s Hand Painting Auction

I’ve realized I hadn’t updated the info here on my blog as I had on Instagram. The original painting of In Fate’s Hand that was for auction on Ebay, has now been moved to the shop. I had some issues with Ebay account, as it was a new one, and felt it would get better views directly in the shop. 50% of the sale of the painting will still go the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation as originally planned, so please pass on the word and check it out for yourself if interested. Thanks! 🙂