Okay, so I decided to dive into this whole ‘Harriet Owen’ thing a while back. Saw some pictures, maybe online, maybe in a book, can’t quite recall where exactly. But the style, yeah, it really stuck with me. Seemed simple at first glance, but there was something more to it, you know?
Getting Started
First thing I did was just try to find more examples of her work. Spent a good chunk of time just looking, trying to soak it in. What colors did she favor? How did she handle light? Stuff like that. It wasn’t like finding a manual, more like detective work. Then I figured, okay, enough looking, time to actually do something.
I went through my supplies. Had most of the basic stuff already, paints, brushes, some canvas boards. Didn’t want to buy anything fancy just yet. Thought I’d try replicating one specific piece that caught my eye. Looked like a landscape, sort of abstract but not totally.
The Messy Middle
So, I started painting. Mixed some colors that looked about right. Put the first layers down. And honestly? It looked like garbage. Nothing like her style. Mine was clunky, the colors felt muddy. It was frustrating, really.
- Tried different brushes.
- Played with thinning the paint more, then less.
- Attempted to copy the brushstroke direction I thought I saw.
None of it quite clicked. It felt like I was missing a key ingredient. Maybe it was the layering technique? Or perhaps the way she built up texture? I just couldn’t quite figure it out from the finished pictures alone.
Digging a Bit Deeper
Went back to looking. This time, I focused less on the whole picture and more on tiny sections. Zoomed right in where I could. Tried to see the order of things. Was that dark color underneath? Or put on top? It’s tough to tell sometimes. I spent hours just staring, making little notes in my sketchbook. Not drawing, just writing observations like “looks dry brushed here” or “very thin wash in the background”.
Then I just put it aside for a few days. Let my brain chew on it. Sometimes stepping away helps, right? Gives you fresh eyes when you come back.
Another Go
When I came back, I tried a different approach. Focused purely on the way the light seemed to work in her pieces. Less about copying exactly, more about capturing that feeling. Started with a really light base, almost white. Then slowly built up the mid-tones. Tried to keep the brushwork loose, less controlled than my usual habit.
It… well, it still wasn’t a Harriet Owen painting. Not by a long shot. But it felt a bit closer. Less like a total failure, anyway. There were moments, small areas on the canvas, where I thought, “Okay, that little bit kinda has the vibe.”
What I Learned
So, what did I get out of this whole exercise? Mostly, humility. Realized that what looks simple often isn’t. It also reminded me that copying isn’t really the goal. Understanding the why behind someone’s technique is way more valuable. Even though I didn’t manage to perfectly replicate her style, the process of trying, failing, analyzing, and trying again taught me a lot about my own habits and limitations. It pushed me to experiment, which is always good. So yeah, the ‘Harriet Owen’ practice? Didn’t nail it, but definitely learned something along the way. Worth the effort, I’d say.
