Watercolor practice

Painting by Vicky Christensen, watercolor on paper

 I've tried watercolor in the past and never felt confident doing it. Since I help some senior citizens paint with watercolor once a month, I figured I better improve my skills. My first attempt at urban sketching is below. It didn't go too well. Today I decided to paint a rose (above). The background is a mixed bag but I'm satisfied with the overall results.