Abstract Landscapes In Watercolor

Do you remember the loose landscapes I recently did in acrylics?  Well, I decided to try them in watercolor.

However, I wanted to give myself some new criteria to challenge my brain!  🙂

I decided to first create imaginary abstract landscapes with torn magazines and then paint them in watercolor.  I thought it would also be good practice in mixing similar colors with paint.  And to add another challenge, I decided to try adding texture to my watercolors with some of these items:

Here are my results, can you find the bubble wrap in the one below?

I like the simplicity of this one:

I realized afterwards that I needed less water and more paint to get closer to my color values.  Sometimes it is hard to remember that watercolor dries lighter!

I used several different textures in the above piece.  An egg carton to dip into the greenish-blue paint which made a great stamp!  An old dish rag for the purple mountain shape and the textured paper to create the bumps in the light green shape.

I think I like my last one best:

I used toilet paper to blot the green mountain shape.  Table salt on the black.  And the end of my paint brush to create lines in the purple shape.

I really enjoyed this exercise I created for myself!  Starting with collage first helped me to create shapes, colors and patterns that I would not have done on my own.

Here is a photo of a landscape at the lake.  I encourage you to give it a try!

Wishing you a sunny Sunday!  🙂