The postcard exchange update, February landscape in mixed media

A muddy lane in February, one for the postcard exchange, roughly A5

This was my February postcard for our exchange - now posted on our group blog.

It ws done with a loose underpainting in watercolour and Caran d'Ache Neocolor II, then some coloured pencil, more of the Caran d' applied without water and a little oil pastel and gouache.

At the beginning of spring the hawthorn hedges briefly have a pink glow as the sap rises and the tiny leaf buds swell a little. It was very cold still. As soon as the leaves grow a little more, the pink is gone.

Dried grasses made calligraphic marks against spiky hedges and the slight mistiness made the far trees a bluish haze.

It was wet and squelchy and there were deep puddles in the tracks along the lane.

My March card was posted a couple of days ago and I'm looking forward to receiving my next one :>) I've no idea which member it will be from. I've received 2 gorgeous cards so far :>)

Comments

annie said…
Really lovely, Vivien. I do like the glow and texture. Caran d'Ache Neocolor II is great fun to use.
annie
Lunar Hine said…
Quite jealous of the recipient of this.
That hawthorn pink places the scene in its brief season. Can't imagine why it isn't painted more often - such a lovely spray of colour while it lasts and so delicate against the greens of everything else.
I struggle to get me Caran d'Ache crayons to mix evenly (with water, I mean). Any tips?
vivien said…
thank you both :>)

tips? mmmm - I think I'd say use them with watercolour - using the watercolour loosely for where you want pale luminosity.

The caran d' are a rather more like gouache, heavier and more opaque even used thinly, so use them over the watercolour where you want the effects that they can give.

I'm glad someone else enjoys that brief flush of colour :>)
Lunar Hine said…
Thank you Vivien. I'll give that a go.
Robyn Sinclair said…
I was hoping you'd describe how you achieved this beautiful postcard, Vivien now I realise it's not just the knowledge of what you did but the talent you brought to it. I'm just going to have to wait for my postcard from you because it's the closest I'm going to get to such mixed media magic.
Lindsay said…
The colors are lovely!
vivien said…
aaawww thanks :>)
laurel said…
Beautiful! I'd like to be walking down that lane.
vivien said…
thanks :>) - warning - it WAS cold!
Donald Flake said…
A fab sketch. Brilliant use of colour. Great grainy texture too
Donald Flake said…
briil use of colours and texture!!

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