Use It or Lose It!

Have you heard the saying ‘use it or lose it’, before? Basically, it means if you don’t keep using or practicing a skill, you’ll lose the ability that you have. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s true!  I’ve been busy creating with resin lately, and it’s been about a month since I’ve done any watercolour painting. I really wanted to paint last week’s inspiration photo for our #brushobuddies challenge, so I made some time.

INSPIRATION PHOTO

Each Monday, I share an inspiration photo in our Brusho Fun group that I’ve chosen from a royalty free site, like Pixabay or Unsplash. I will also look in another FB group I belong in, where photographers share their photos, royalty free, for artists to use as references. The purpose of the photos is to give a jumping off point to anyone who might be feeling a lack of inspiration or motivation to paint. Then, we share our paintings in the group, using the hashtag #brushobuddies.  This is the photo I found in the photo group, taken by Corine Coco.

MY VERSION

I chose this photo because I loved the shape of the tree – it’s like a large bonsai.  Of course, a true bonsai is found in a pot or container – so maybe this is more of a topiary? Anyway, I traced the general outline onto my Stonehenge Aqua Cold Press paper block, and then used my Brusho Crystal Colours to paint.

I chose to not include the ducks, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to make them look like more than blobs with beaks!

I enjoyed painting the tree, and trying to capture the shape and textures of the rocks. Some worked better than others! But like I said – I hadn’t painted in about a month, and I did lose some of that ‘muscle memory’ of painting. What I need to do is find a balance of time between  painting with Brusho, and creating with resin! Because I do really enjoy both.

I did a couple of different techniques for texture, including lifting with bleach, and stippling with a brush.

Thanks for having a look at my painting today! Tomorrow I’ll be back with – you guessed it – more resin projects!

Affiliate links for products are provided, at no cost to you. When you choose to use my links, I receive a small commission, which helps me maintain my blog & keep creating. Thanks in advance!