Watercolor painting by
Elizabeth Hall
Elizabeth Hall's watercolor learning experience:
I made a greeting card to give to my mother this Mother's day. I decided to work from a photograph of her and I from when I was a baby. I chose this subject because It was a touching image of us together which I thought would be appropriate for the occasion. It depicts me on her lap looking at a picture book and we are smiling. This photo also shows a nice balance of light and shadow in the faces. It is clear that a flash was not used, but it isn't to dark either.
It was satisfying for me to work so small for a change. It was a different experience from my other paintings because, working within the borders of a greeting card size, I couldn't include as much detail in the faces without making them look muddy. It was much easier to make the painting look precise and smooth. I also liked the effect of leaving the background vague, as just a suggestion of color and keeping it light and simple. I will definitely be making greeting cards for future occasions, I enjoyed this more than other kinds of painting and it is a more personal gesture than a purchased card.
