I just couldn't resist trying this out - cherries all on the same medium weight and medium grain paper.

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The pastels and water colours are something I bought and used for the first time today. The water colours are probably more dense then they should be but I was scared of using too much water because the paper I was working on is not all that heavy and I was afraid it might buckle. I really loved both the pastels and the water colours... I can see myself becoming addicted to them.

*laughing* I can see that too - very clearly.

It looks very good, Rose! Which WC (watercolors) have you bought? I mostly use "Schmincke" WC, because I like if they are dense.

Rose when working with watercolors alot of times its better to get masking tape or painting masking tape and tape the outer edge all around the paper on a flat surface. Or try wetting the whole paper first both sides and letting it dry and it shouldn't buckle anymore. Just make sure to tape it down.

beautiful cherries Rose .. you did a nice job with the light .

Thanks girls.

Venus, this was just a very brief exercise. I had just returned from town with my new toys and just had to try them out!

Now I'm dying to get the books I ordered so I can really get down to business.

Nice variations. It's interesting to see.

Did you draw it from life? If yes: where did you find cherries?

Very nice, Rose. You are bursting out into other mediums which is wonderful!!!

Well Rose, its obvious that you're really struggling with these new mediums...heheheh

You take to it all like a duck to water. Keep it up!

As for paper buckling, well if its just a practice piece its not all that serious and can often simmer down when it dries completely - with the help of some heavy books on top.

Thanks again everyone.

Paolo: You being practically my next door neighbour should know our cherries are black and not orange and red... and you should know they are out of season.... and you should know (well maybe this one you don't! ) that my husband would have devoured real life cherries before I even mixed my paints!

Joanie: Thank you for all your support sweetie.

Jeanette: Well, to be honest I did have a bit of a tug-of-war with the pastels on first encounter. It's not easy at all to even set down a line where you really want it with those sticks. But then me and them had a good head to head talk.. I smiled sweetly at them and they behaved! But honestly I need books... I need proper instruction.

Hi Rose,

Here is an artist who only uses watercolor and give online some lessons on WC.

Thank you for the link Martina.

Rose, are there any art clubs or instructors in your area? That may be a logical next step for you.

They all look so delicious!

Jeanette: I've looked online. There is one art club that I found but it's on the other side of the island which means an hour by car each way there and back so I don't think it is something I want to face on a regular basis... besides it looks like it is a very local sort of club. There are of course a couple of national schools of art or arts and crafts. One of them in particular I believe does take "older" students so maybe I should be looking into that. It would be nice if I could get a one on one tutor and I'm sure there are a few around but I would have to research that differently... sort of ask around I suppose.

Meantime, today I received the first two of the last batch of books I ordered - Cathy Johnson's PAINTING WATERCOLORS and Kristy Kutch's DRAWING AND PAINTING WITH COLORED PENCIL. Both are pretty basic books with step by step demonstrations so I hope to learn a few tricks from them. I'm still waiting for another 3 or 4 books that I ordered so for the time being I'll continue to study and teach myself.