Santorini Greece - water colour study works in my sketch book

Water colour study works on cartridge sheets

Some time back I posted about my sketch book in which I create small water colour works . I added a few more works in the same book referring to photographs sent to me by a friend who recently visited Santorini, Greece. The blue traditional doors and the pink bougainvillea flowers around it, casting beautiful shadow patterns on the white wall look so amazing and I could not resist painting them. For the study purpose I have used the water colour medium but some day later I shall recreate them in soft pastels too.

The size of each of these paintings is 4" X 5.5" and I call them "Study works" as I have done them at a great speed with very loose brushstrokes in an attempt to get a better understanding of the subject.

Small water colour study works
of scenes from Santorini, Greece
Created in my sketch book.

My Sketch book
with 40 Cartridge sheets in it.

Sable hair brushes from Himalaya Fine Art

A Stationery shop at Fort, Mumbai

Painting small works in the Sketch Book is total fun. There is absolutely no fear of  going wrong or ruining a painting and probably this freedom to paint freely and loosely helps me to enjoy and learn better. Learning for me is a part of my art journey. It has no boundaries or limits. There is a lot to do and a lot to learn. 

Albert Einstein said, "Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death."

I fully agree with the above statement. Each and everyone of us irrespective of age and other factors must continue working at whatever he/she loves. It changes life for the better and makes life so much more meaningful.

Experimenting with water colour techniques in my sketch book.

Sketchbook has become a very significant part of my art journey. I use it for my small preliminary works in different mediums. These days I am creating water colour paintings in them. I posted about these works earlier too and you can CLICK HERE to browse through them.

The works are sized 4" X 5.5" and are done in a very free and loose manner. Working small helps me to learn better. I start with the reference photo, analyse the elements and then work out the procedure in my mind regarding the technique that I shall be using to create the background, middle ground and the foreground. Then I go ahead and mix the colours as required in my palette ( Camlin artists water colour tubes ) and begin the work.

It takes me roughly ten to fifteen minutes to create each work. Since it is a small preliminary study I have to constantly remind myself to avoid getting into too many details and stop after a while. However many a times I get so involved with my art that I lose the sense of time and overdo the strokes which is not really required.

After completing each of the small paintings I make a small note at the side which in future can remind me of my little experiments that I did each time. At times the painting does not match the vision that I had in mind and it challenges me all the more to try out something different to make it work.

A rocky seashore

Maya bay

Breezy day at the sea

Foggy day at seashore

A tree in shadow

Mandalpatti hills ( Karnataka )

Dense foliage 

Aerial perspective - study work

The sketch book with 40 cartridge sheets in it.

I am loving this sketch book. I purchased it from Art Station, a stationery shop close to my residence.

Posting below a beautiful quote that I came across recently and it so well worded. Anyone who is painting in water colour medium will agree with it.

"Watercolor is like golf. Every stroke counts." Katie Wood McCloy