It's a Start!

Not quite as tentative, a little brighter, a few more colors
and water acting together.  This was to be very traditional,
something I penciled down shortly after we got to Sedona.
I decided to leave traditional behind and see what happened.
I'm still pondering that but I think it's better.  We'll see what
tomorrow brings.

This is New Mexico as we sped along I-40 trying to stay ahead

of the snow.  We made it!

Part of the Process

Note the pile of abused paper.

An evening of just messing around.

Trying to get rid of Mr. Illustrator.

I don't remember taking this long before.

Maybe I'm aimed at the wrong groove.

Still have a month to find it.

Watercolors by Doug Daniels. Uh?

Yah, I know it's not watercolor.  Right now watercolor
is killing me so I left it this afternoon and dragged out some
pastels.  Don't worry, I'm no threat to all of you wonderful
painter's that use pastels.  Back in the 60's when I was studying
Fine Arts & Illustration my prof. would walk by, stop and not
say anything.   Ten minutes would pass when he made another
circuit.  He stopped again behind me, stood there for a minute
then said "Um, that's too bad ... you had a nice drawing
ten minutes ago.

Long story short, this post should have been stopped at least
ten minutes before it did.  Too bad I have such a bad memory.

Please look at this as a place saver until I get my act back together
with watercolor.  Until later, paint and draw with passion.

No Photos, ever???

I was tossing and turning this morning wondering where
this was all leading.  I thought about the statement I made
yesterday "No Photo's Ever!  It's been worrying me ever
since.  I can't remember all the of the places and things I've
seen over the years.  Photo's are the only memories I have.
I guess that's why I take so many of them, most are useless
or provide just a brief glimpse of what I was seeing and thinking.
For me they're mind reference and only for that purpose!

This is what I did wrong.  I tried to draw directly from a photo
and then paint loosely.  Yeah, that's right, I just said that.
This is what Loriann was talking about.  It's not wrong to
have photo's but it's wrong to use them as direct reference or
to copy.  Of course this is not true for everyone.  If exact
replication and detail is your style then yes, photo reference
is perfect if you can't have the subject in front of you.

I have to be careful of what I say, this is ME I'm talking about
here, not everyone else.

So, another day has dawned and it's time to put on the coffee
and see where it leads.  Wish me luck, I'll need it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!
From Sedona,
Doug

DO NOT USE PHOTO'S, EVER!!!

Well at least hardly ever for those that have success with photo's
I'm posting a photograph to prove our best friend and marvelous
painter ... Loriann Signori how true her statement is, was, will always be.

This is from someone that should know better ... ME!!!!

It was OK as a commercial illustrator when reference and speed
were key.  Now 7 years since I've retired I still get sucked into my
old habit ... PHOTOGRAPHS!!!!!!!!!

TODAY you will see the photograph that has caused this uproar.
The goal when I arrived in Sedona was loosen up and stop creating
mud.  Later I will show the unfinished attempt just prior to it's
burial.

Learn from this stupidity!

Starting Over ... Again!

Struggling start.  The brush feels odd as well as the paper.

Because of my shoulder I have to stand to paint.  This is

new to me in the studio.  More later hopefully when things

begin to roll.  In the mean time, from Sedona

 Thumbnail

 Tozigoot

Tozigoot 2

Doug