Welcome to Sally Vidalin's Page!

   This is a picture of a whole bunch of ornaments I am working on... As you can see I am SUPER BUSY and mixing up lots of wonderful colors on my pallet!

Good thing I enjoy doing this :) 

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An Original watercolor with hand-crochet frame by Sally Vidalin.

Title:  Christmas Pines

Size:   Circle, 3 1/4" diameter

Materials:  Professional grade/ artist watercolors, pen & ink,  90lb cold press watercolor canvas & premium decorative yarn.



Each year I make special ornaments for Arts & Craft fares and to give as gifts to my family and friends.  This year I will offer them on Etsy too :)  http://www.etsy.com/listing/83993007/christmas-pines-orniment?ref=pr_shop

Enjoy the beauty and keepsake quality of this ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR ORNAMENT.  It is ornament #1 in my "Pines" series.



*The little Christmas scene is hand painted with tiny brushes. You'll love the intricately detailed artwork...  For example:  Can you see the snow falling?  I use professional, light-fast, archival, watercolor pigments,…

Been buying new and used tubes of Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors and experimenting with them.  Wow!  They are terrific.

I am in Arizona right now so when I read this on the Daniel Smith web site...

A brilliant sun sits high and bright over the desert sky, baking the earth and warming the air. Far below humble cacti ignite the landscape, their deep green bodies springing forth with petals of red and orange. Daniel Smith’s new Cactus Flower Triad celebrates this vibrant display with a trio of watercolor for painting the desert in bloom.

Your desert landscape takes shape with Zoisite Genuine, a deep and textural green perfect for giving structure to cacti. Permanent Orange brings a sizzling splash of orange to petals. Cadmium Red Medium Hue amplifies this desert palette with a red-hot flourish of color for your cactus blossoms. Get ready to bask in the glow of a rich and warm palette of watercolor.

 

I knew I had to paint the Daniel Smith "Cactus Flower Triad" as a learning exercise :)

*The triad includes:  Zoisite Genuine

                                 Permanent Orange

                                 Cadmium Red Medium Hue

First, using the three tubes of extra fine watercolor (above) provided by Daniel Smith, I painted a Triad Color Chart. This also insured that I had many of the correct color mixtures "ready to go" in my pallet :)  How easy does that get!…

I am thinking Iris... So, after looking at lots of examples, I created this study with watercolors on a little sketch pad.  

Using a soft round brush and used long strokes of various colors for the petals, stems and leaves.

  Next, I will practice using more expensive paper.  That's where the fun will really begin. 

Finished!!!

Well, I won't have much time this month (house guests coming and helping a college age son move to OR)
Still plan to give the Feb Watercolor Challenge of Shiny a try.

Spent a bit of time this am to study my subject matter and begin to a rough draft sketch. FUN!

This blog will be a journal of my progress as I upgrade and expand my art supplies.   Should be a great help when I shop and all along the way as I work on my art.

Part 1

What I am finding out from other accomplished artists: 

Oh my gosh, The following is a wealth of information :)



From Mary Wykes 

"Hi Sally



Personally, I use primarily Wilcox School of Color pigments, and a limited palette.  Primarily that is because I was taking the Wilcox School of Color courses, and then certified to be an instructor.  (Wish I was better at marketing the course  cause it is fun to teach!) The color studies I did have helped me immensely, as I don't struggle with mixing "mud" - but when I need it for greys, and color blacks, I know exactly how to get it.



I know that Daniel Smith pigments are high quality, and there are many others.  I'm really not an expert on this.



I think what has helped me the most is using a limited palette.  My full palette includes the following:



Quinacridone violet (permanent alizarin crimson) - color varies a lot by manufacturer



cadmium red light



cadmium yellow



Hansa yellow



cerulean



ultramarine



These above are the most basic colors



 



burnt sienna…