Watercolor Notes:Resistance with a capital R A recent plein air painting Hi Reader, Here's a very random analogy for you, so stick with me...growing up on a ranch, there were always a couple of cow magnets in my dad's animal-medical kit. I played with them as a kid and no matter how you tried to push the opposing sides together, they just wouldn't go. There was this invisible force field of resistance between them, and I could feel the push against my hands. (In case you're wondering, cow...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Watercolor Notes Hi Reader, I hope your May has been a creative one so far. I took Ellie to the beach yesterday and she dug a big hole. What she really loves is rescuing a small stick from the depths of the sand. If I find a stick and push it down into the hole she’s already dug, the game really begins. It’s serious work and play at the same time. She has to problem-solve and that’s what she loves most. This is similar to the reason why I enjoy watercolor painting so much. Painting is one...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I hope you're enjoying some signs of spring! This month, inside Watercolor In Flow, I posted a new video on painting water, and the ocean waves demo might be my favorite thing I've taught so far. When you live on the Oregon coast, discovering a way to paint waves is key. Here are a few still shots from the video. Phase 1: This is the moment that trips most people up: the rocks are painted, you're painting the sky, and all that white paper is just... sitting there. Intimidating,...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, It's a rainy Sunday on the Oregon Coast, which feels like the right kind of day to bring home a (new-to-me) vintage dresser and reorganize the studio. This is the only nice corner of my studio right now. The rest looks like chaos. William Morris said, "Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." I think that's a good rule for studios, too. I'm working on it! And speaking of working on things, I wanted to let you know about a workshop...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader,Today I have a quote to share from artist David Curtis. "The idea that watercolor is a pleasant little pastime; that logic defies me, I'm afraid. It's a tough old sport. I think it's that the highs are incredibly high and the lows can be very disheartening, especially when you get a run of substandard work. You begin to wonder if whatever abilities you've got are on a knife-edge and that you're beginning to lose them. You think 'that's just me', but then you talk to your peers, and...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader,Here are some notes about sketching on location: When you sketch from life instead of photos, something shifts. You start noticing color differently. You begin to see the quality of light. And the best part - your sketch doesn’t have to be good! You will still learn from the experience. Frederick Frank said it perfectly. "I have learned that what I have not drawn I have never really seen, and that when I start drawing an ordinary thing, I realize how extraordinary it is, sheer...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Here's my Watercolor Note for this week: Your painting style isn't about choosing a look. It's about discovering a process that works for you. To gain your own voice,forget about having it heard.—Allen Ginsberg I painted the same sunflower four different ways, and each one reflects a different painting identity. Finding the approach that feels most natural (and most fun) is a powerful step toward developing your style. Watch an excerpt of this sunflower lesson here →...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, What if you could create color harmony in your watercolor paintings without complex color theory or even thinking about the color wheel? In my latest Instagram Reel, you can hear my favorite color harmony tip: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUHTq66Aee5/ Happy painting! P.S. This week, experiment with 4 random colors from your stash. Sometimes the best learning happens when you try something new. watercolor notes by Vinita Pappas www.vinitapappas.com 600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768,...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I recently filmed a painting demo titled "North Bank Barn." Here's a 3-minute excerpt for you to watch→. A few quick updates while I have you: This newsletter has a new name: Watercolor Notes. (Because lately I've been writing notes about painting in my journal, good ol' fashioned pen and paper.) And if you missed my email last week: Watercolor In Flow is officially open. It's my new program - a video library plus live Q&A sessions where I teach watercolor technique AND help you...
7 months ago • 1 min read