For greater freedom and confidence with watercolor, I’ve been working on small studies using watercolor directly on the page, without any drawing in pencil or pen beforehand.  This has been illuminating: while the spontaneity can of course lead to disasters, I am also often much happier with the way that I am able to capture light on form especially.

Here are some examples:

 

Last week, I completed a new monarch painting for the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County (for Kathleen’s Canyon Overlook in Black Lake Canyon Preserve).  This time, the butterflies are overwintering on eucalyptus.  The progress of the painting: