Sunday, April 10, 2011

Sunday Sketches - Midnight Velvet

'Midnight Velvet'
I've been practicing with my watercolors and was looking at photos online for some inspiration and found this gorgeous glowing moon with black background and treeline and couldn't resist.  Now, my treeline isn't as nearly as cool as the real thing and I kinda cut off the moon a little too much on the right but I think it turned out really good.  The colors in real life really pop and it looks as if it's glowing so I'm super psyched about this one and can't wait to frame it and hang it!

I use watercolors for the moon and gouache for the black to make sure it was more opaque and not too transparent.  I've had some small tubes of the gouache for about three years and haven't touched them until now.  It's much thicker than regular watercolor so I only had to give it two coats to get a nice rich black.

The hunt for a new apartment is still on.  We're supposed to look at a condo for rent today but I haven't heard back from the owner so I'm not sure if he found someone else to rent it or he's just been really busy.  I'm hoping it's because he's busy because it sounds really nice.  It has two bedrooms and a loft area, 1.5 bathrooms, a washer and dryer right in the unit and central air!  Knowing my luck he already rented it out and is just avoiding me now. lol.  

Anyway, to see more great Sunday Sketches hop on over to Blue Chair Diary hosted by the lovely Sophia!
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31 comments:

  1. HannahApril 10, 2011 at 1:52 AM

    Wow! The moon looks awesome. Well done.

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  2. UnknownApril 10, 2011 at 2:17 AM

    Really like this, great idea...

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  3. jywheelerApril 10, 2011 at 5:53 AM

    I love your painting....you know I have gouache too and haven't used it. Maybe you have inspired me! LOL. Good luck in your apartment search.

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  4. HelenApril 10, 2011 at 5:57 AM

    I love the skyline and the painting, it's great.

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  5. MarleneApril 10, 2011 at 6:43 AM

    Beautiful painting. I don't have any gouache and have been curious bout it, maybe I will get some to try. Good Luck with getting an apartment.

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  6. ChristineApril 10, 2011 at 7:52 AM

    beautiful composition...

    Nice to learn about gouache, it does give that midnight blackness.

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  7. HeatherApril 10, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    Deanna,
    Good morning! This is just plain gorgeous!!!!!! Love the glowing moon....you have really captured it. I actually have been just sitting here staring at it. Really love the glowing feel it has. I like the black tree line, too! I have never used guache,,,,must try now!

    have a great day and good luck with the apartment...hope you get it!xo

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  8. Alexandra MacVeanApril 10, 2011 at 8:32 AM

    Deanna,
    I think you did a FINE job. Wow. I know I couldn't have pulled something like that off. So proud of you and the motivation to continue to teach yourself watercolours. I just received some books in the mail and am looking forward to starting them, too. :) Hugs

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  9. Sinderella's StudioApril 10, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    I love it!!!! What colors did you use for the moon... it does glow! I love gouache! I think it is perfect!
    cheers, dana

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  10. FallingladiesApril 10, 2011 at 8:43 AM

    great job, the colors are perfect!

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  11. TiLTApril 10, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    Great moon! I really like all the black - really makes it pop

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  12. maddyroseApril 10, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    I love the colors in this piece. They really do pop. I'm not familiar with gouache but now I'm thinking about checking it out. Nice work.

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  13. ShaylaApril 10, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    The texture on your moon is lovely! You did a fantastic job!

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  14. Jehanne's doodlesApril 10, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    Oh that is a really cool painting. The tree line is super. I initially wondered about the black- thanks for sharing that info. I will cross my fingers re the condo, it sounds really great. :)

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  15. Kristin DudishApril 10, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    Wow - fantastic! This really pops :)
    I love the contrast between the moon and the black!

    xo
    Kristin

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  16. Carola BartzApril 10, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    When this page first opened up on my monitor I actually thought it's a photo - until I realized it's watercolor. It's stunning!

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  17. DebbieApril 10, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    Wow! I'm loving this one so much!

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  18. TeriApril 10, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    It looks beautiful and great use of gouache. I don't use mine too much either.

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  19. Tammie LeeApril 10, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    this is beautiful! I love it. thank you for sharing what you used to make it, i love those details. wishing you the best finding home~

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  20. lissaApril 10, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    the colors are just right and the title fits very well

    have a great day.

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  21. AnonymousApril 10, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    Awesome moon! Love the color. BTW, you probably already know this, but you can mix your regular watercolors with the white gouache to get different colors of gouache. So you only really need the white and black.

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  22. Julia ChristieApril 10, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    This is gorgeous! I just love it! I keep seeing so many of you artists that do such a great job with watercolors and I really have to just jump in and try them out!

    Smiles

    and good luck with the apartment!!!

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  23. WrightStuffApril 10, 2011 at 2:21 PM

    This is incredible. I think you are being too harsh on yourself. Do more like this - it's fab!!

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  24. Joni NickrentApril 10, 2011 at 3:31 PM

    Love your watercolor...the contrast between the moon and the silhouette of the trees is awesome! The moon is one of my favorite muses...:) Great job! Found you from your Sunday Sketches Link!

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  25. AnonymousApril 10, 2011 at 8:59 PM

    Hi Deanna! Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your lovely comments on my mermaid girl. Love your watercolor full-moon! Looks like the moon we had last month! Happy Spring!

    xoxo Valerie
    http://valeriehart.com

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  26. Elizabeth ClaireApril 10, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    The colors in the moon are so beautiful! I really like the painting with all that black ! Hope you can find the right apartment!

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  27. AnonymousApril 11, 2011 at 2:38 AM

    This is lovly. The colours in the moon are gorgeous and your tree line looks great!

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  28. Jenn BowerApril 11, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    WOW! That looks incredible. What a striking contrast. I tried a watercolor moon once so I have great admiration for what you have done here.

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  29. GalleryJuanaApril 11, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    Talk about glowing! Great job.
    Thanks for the ss visit.

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  30. EVAApril 11, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    Absolutely gorgeous!!! I LOVE this!

    Good luck Deanna!

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  31. Paula - Buenos AiresApril 12, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    That´s an amazing glowing moon. In love with the trees too.

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