Practicing on scrap paper before diving in

Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}August 9, 2015August 8, 2015Pen & Ink, Resolution, WatercolorDrawing, finishing, flowers, illustration, ink, paint, painting, watercolor

After the debacle of the sunflower. I decided to practice on a scrap piece of paper before starting a painting of an Echinacea flower. This way I would have a plan on how to paint it.
scrap

The scrap paper coneflower came out pretty good, so I started my painting. I loved the start of this painting. But when I went back to add some details I felt like I messed it up. Why is it that working quick can look great, but sometimes when you work harder at something (more deliberately), you overwork it, and ruin it?
startofthecone

So here I am with a scrap of paper, that several people love, and an unfinished painting. And I am stuck.

I wrote the above 4 weeks ago! Ironically yesterday’s post was “Forcing myself to finish.” This Echinacea flower project is a great example of me not finishing – I felt I had ruined it, didn’t know how to proceed, so I stopped. Two days ago, I pulled it out, added details in ink, and declared it finished.

No matter how a project comes out it feels great to finish!

Published by Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

Watercolor Artist, seascape painter, collector of creative inspiration. Sign up for my newsletter! Want to learn watercolor? Visit: https://shop.eileenmckenna.com/ View more posts

13 thoughts on “Practicing on scrap paper before diving in”

memadtwo says:

August 9, 2015 at 8:15 am

I can’t figure out which you think is messed up…they all look OK to me, just different approaches to the subject.

Reply
1. mycreativeresolution2014 says:
  
  August 9, 2015 at 9:29 am
  
  Thank you. I think I felt like I messed up the one with the green background, so I gave up on it for a while. Finally I decided to just work with it and finish it with ink.
  
  Reply
  1. memadtwo says:
    
    August 9, 2015 at 11:47 am
    
    I like them all.
Laura (Createarteveryday) says:

August 9, 2015 at 8:21 am

I like the way you finished it! Beautiful colors too!

Reply
1. mycreativeresolution2014 says:
  
  August 9, 2015 at 9:29 am
  
  Thank you Laura! 🙂
  
  Reply
Rachel Murphree says:

August 9, 2015 at 1:01 pm

The ink details are really nice! good for you for keeping at it, and ending up with something you are proud of.

Reply
1. mycreativeresolution2014 says:
  
  August 10, 2015 at 10:27 pm
  
  Thanks Rachel 🙂
  
  Reply
Arts & Rhymes says:

August 9, 2015 at 1:37 pm

I really like all three of them; they are all beautiful in their own way!

Reply
1. mycreativeresolution2014 says:
  
  August 10, 2015 at 10:28 pm
  
  Thanks Sibella!
  
  Reply
rebecca says:

August 10, 2015 at 2:35 am

….closure! And I have the same feeling some times that something I did as a sketch, quickie, loose, on a whim, looks so great I want to make a “real” version, a bigger more substantial piece but then it is different, not as appealing…you echinacea is great! I love the word the debacle too….I live in a world of debacles! haha

Reply
1. mycreativeresolution2014 says:
  
  August 10, 2015 at 10:30 pm
  
  Yes! It’s closure on a project that feels good. Whether it’s a debacle or not 🙂
  
  Reply
Sharon Mann says:

August 10, 2015 at 11:58 am

Now frame this beautiful flower and admire your creativity. Nicely done.

Reply
1. mycreativeresolution2014 says:
  
  August 10, 2015 at 10:30 pm
  
  Thank you Sharon! 🙂
  
  Reply

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Published by Eileen McKenna {my creative resolution}

13 thoughts on “Practicing on scrap paper before diving in”

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