About a year ago, I went to the Boathouse Studio to do some life painting. The model was fantastic, and during the break, I caught her breast feeding her new baby, who was otherwise being looked after by the Grandmother.
I asked if Mother and baby would model together…..the following watercolour demo comes from that session.
Working on white watercolour paper, I am using four colours – burnt sienna, winsor violet, prussian blue and yellow ochre. All the whites in the image are white paper.
I sketch out the form using brush and yellow ochre. The darker tones are a mix of burnt sienna and winsor violet.
The studio was very warm and quiet. It was the perfect environment to observe the bond between Mother and baby.
Using burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the middle tones, I build the image.
Using a mix of prussian blue and burnt sienna, I add a strong dark into the negative space.
In the final frame, I continue to strengthen the dark in the negative space (the area surrounding Mother and Baby) and at the same time enhance the darks throughout the image. This brings a sense of harmony and rhythm to the watercolour.
As I mentioned yesterday, I always get confused with Mother’s Day, because it is a month earlier in the UK…however, this image is for all of those celebrating this weekend.
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A Bientôt
My Life as an Artist (2) 
And what beautiful Mother’s Day paintings. Thank You.
Thank you…
We don’t seem to have a mother’s day this week, but I’m willing to celebrate mothers any day, and these watercolors do honor them well.
We have Mother’s Day in the UK a month earlier. Given that both my children live in the USA, I am very aware of this particular date, but as you say every day should be a celebration of Mothers:)x
Such beautiful images for mothers everywhere.xxx
Thank you so much Dina:)xxx