12.28.2012

Alhambra Palace, Granada II

© Sophia Khan
watercolor on Arches paper

Several weeks ago, I took a wonderful watercolor workshop with Jean Haines where I started a painting of the Alhambra Palace.  I got some great feedback from Jean and based upon that, I did this second painting of it at home (done without a pencil sketch).  I am not sure if it is complete, but I will let it be for now.

Update
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12.12.2012

Casa de Pilatos, Seville


© Sophia Khan
watercolor on Arches paper

Update
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12.07.2012

watercolor washes


© Sophia Khan
watercolor on Arches paper

I have been working on and off on a highly detailed watercolor for quite some time. Beginning the day with these watercolor washes has been a wonderful way to relax, enjoy the slow process of the wash, be patient, and simply loosen up.  

I also enjoy these as it's wonderful to begin with something not knowing exactly where it will lead.

11.14.2012

Alhambra Palace, Granada

© Sophia Khan
watercolor on Arches paper

A watercolor which I began during a workshop with Jean Haines, completed at home, painted without an underlying pencil sketch.

Update
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11.10.2012

Moroccan Door


© Sophia Khan
watercolor on Arches paper

This is one of the watercolors I did during a workshop with Jean Haines, done without an underlying pencil sketch.

10.06.2012

Venice from a distance in time and space


© Sophia Khan
watercolor on Arches paper


© Sophia Khan
watercolor on Arches paper


Life has been keeping me quite busy lately but taking the time to work on Venetian landscapes, such as these, has brought me moments of relaxation and enjoyment. I don't force myself to paint on a schedule, at least not right now.  Rather, I wait to be in the right frame of mind so I can enjoy the process and not have it feel like a task.  

Update
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7.29.2012

Enjoying Venice II

© Sophia Khan

I am beginning to appreciate more and more the use of the role of water in watercolor painting. Experimenting with how much to use, when to continually apply it, how much to let it dry before adding more pigment, etc. is part of the fun and process of using the medium to ones advantage.

With this study, I chose a vertical orientation to a scene that is intuitively landscape oriented to see where it would lead me.  I like the results in that it almost looks like a section showing the depth of the water rather than the viewers distance from it.  

I'll surely be continuing my studies into this subject.

Update
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7.22.2012

Enjoying Venice


© Sophia Khan

Yesterday, I went to my local art supply shop to buy a new block of Arches paper. There, I found a small landscape oriented watercolor journal that I just fell in love with and had to buy.  My mind thought of all the small landscape studies I could do of the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice.  (My previous study can be found below, or by clicking here.)

I got up this morning, ran some errands, and happily sat myself down to start having some fun.  I purposefully decided not to use a pencil sketch as I didn't want the paintings to be planned, but more intuitive.  I ended up doing three of the same subject and these are the ones I liked the most.  

I absolutely loved using a small sheet and not worrying about the outcome so much as simply enjoying the process.  I enjoyed every brush stroke from laying the water down for the lagoon to apply wet on wet paint, to working my way upward to the sky and architecture.  I enjoyed figuring out the proportions of the church facade as I painted it.  My favorite moments were finishing off with a slight hint of a dome and campanile.

I feel like the methods I used today were almost a complete opposite of my usual way of painting.  I didn't even mind not using a watercolor block and having the paper slightly buckle before me as it dried.  

Time well spent.  

7.14.2012

Ca' d'Oro, Venice


© Sophia Khan
watercolor on tea stained Arches paper

I decided to work on a painting following my earlier quick study.  I have had Arches rough paper for some time (which is more textured than cold pressed paper) and didn't think I would enjoy working on it as much as I did.  I also really enjoyed working with my new Kolinsky Sable brushes, which I find are well suited to this type of loose work.  I am debating whether to add the arches to the bottom of the arches shown.  I think I am liking the square composition.  

7.02.2012

Ca' d'Oro, Venice

© Sophia Khan
watercolor study on tea stained paper

I have been spending much time on a highly detailed watercolor and decided last night to take a break.  I loosened up and painted the Ca d'Oro facade, without the use of an underlying pencil sketch.  I have also been meaning to paint on the Arches rough paper I had stained with tea some time ago, so this was a good opportunity to test that out as well.  I am pleased with the results enough to perhaps try developing this for a finished painting.

5.20.2012

San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice


© Sophia Khan

watercolor study of the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, done without a pencil sketch

Update

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4.01.2012

Royal Palace doors, Fez III


© Sophia Khan

Watercolor on Arches paper

Update
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3.23.2012

Montepulciano

© Sophia Khan

value study of a street in Montepulciano, done without a preliminary pencil sketch, inspired by Maggie Latham's Exploring Colour in Watercolour.

3.01.2012

Royal Palace doors, Fez

© Sophia Khan

Watercolor on Arches paper

Dale Chihuly


© Sophia Khan

detail and loose drawing of Dale Chihuly's Royal Blue Mint Chandelier, at the Mint Museum

2.24.2012

palace in Palermo

© Sophia Khan

Quick, loose watercolor sketch (cropped) completed after several hours of working 
on another more detailed piece.
This is the site of an old palace in ruins, in Palermo.  
It was being used as a backdrop for concerts at the time I visited.

2.23.2012

Sunshine at the Wing Haven Gardens



A trip to the Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary is always so enchanting.
I feel in another world as birds chirp, squirrels and chipmunks run around, 
and the sound of trickling water guides me through the gardens.  Sunlight comes and goes, warming me as I do my sketches.

© Sophia Khan

2.10.2012

Fez, Royal Palace


© Sophia Khan

watercolor study of a door knocker on the Royal Palace in Fez

1.25.2012

courtyard in Palermo


© Sophia Khan

After spending much time working on a detailed watercolor, 
I had the creative urge to do something more loose and quick.
I searched my travel photographs for inspiration and found it in a courtyard in Palermo.
I enjoyed the process of loosening up and being interpretive with the colors.

1.24.2012

rippling water



© Sophia Khan

The lovely weather tempted me to go outdoors today.
I went to Freedom Park.
There, I did this small watercolor study of the rippling water in the lake.

1.06.2012

Little Sugar Creek Greenway



© Sophia Khan

A sketch of the greenway, where it wraps around Lulu Cafe, 
and a quick playful sketch of the balustrade