If I had much hair (it's almost all gone...just a memory), I'd like to have it spiky for a little while. I have maybe eight hairs on the top of my head that I suppose I could spike with mustache wax, but the resulting look might be a tad scary, and I really don't want to scare anybody. So to satisfy my spiky hair envy, I painted this gentleman who works around the corner from my studio and is a graphic designer. Now to be real frank, the only reason I bothered painting him was to use my Princeton Art @ Brush Co. #12 Jumbo Round water color brush. These brushes are super flexible and tapper down to a beautiful fine tip thereby allowing me to have a rollicking good time rendering his hair while listening to The Rolling Stones. Don't get much better than that!
Yeah, yeah!... I know...I used a little white opaque paint in a few places on his face where I lost some highlights. That's the challenge of water color. If your painting "goes south", you have to go to Plan B or throw it away and start over again. I chose to go to Plan B.
ONE FINAL THING... if I left him bald, I'd title the painting "Etc., Etc., Etc."
If I had much hair (it's almost all gone...just a memory), I'd like to have it spiky for a little while. I have maybe eight hairs on the top of my head that I suppose I could spike with mustache wax, but the resulting look might be a tad scary, and I really don't want to scare anybody. So to satisfy my spiky hair envy, I painted this gentleman who works around the corner from my studio and is a graphic designer. Now to be real frank, the only reason I bothered painting him was to use my Princeton Art @ Brush Co. #12 Jumbo Round water color brush. These brushes are super flexible and tapper down to a beautiful fine tip thereby allowing me to have a rollicking good time rendering his hair while listening to The Rolling Stones. Don't get much better than that!
Yeah, yeah!... I know...I used a little white opaque paint in a few places on his face where I lost some highlights. That's the challenge of water color. If your painting "goes south", you have to go to Plan B or throw it away and start over again. I chose to go to Plan B.
ONE FINAL THING... if I left him bald, I'd title the painting "Etc., Etc., Etc."
20 comments:
Great work, David, I know how hard watercolor is that is why I paint oils...you make it appear so easy. Love the values and the boldness. I think I am feeling a little envious!!
My heart be still - gouache!? The blasphemy! the desecration! Quick, someone call the watercolor police!!!
I'm actually starting to mix opaques with my watercolors - it's really fun. One little tip, if I may: white gesso sometimes works a bit better than gouache. It also dries to a matte finish, but is less chalky-looking and whiter than gouache.
Great painting! Glad you went for plan B.
Nava:I know. I have sinned. Please forgive me. Geez, I'm an acrylic artist too, so next time I'll reach for titanium white! I hate that chalkiness. Thanks for the suggestion.
Theresa: It's only taken me 35 yrs. plus to get to this point...I'm a slow learner.
No, no titanium white - that will dry shiny and stick out too much!! Go for gesso. Plain, good ole' gesso.
Thanks for your encouraging comment on my blog - you made my artistic ego very happy, but now I wonder: what does "watercolornfy" mean?
Got it, Nava... gesso. Thanks!
David- wow- watching this man appear while I scroll, is just great.
There can't be any two harder things to combine: portraits and watercolor.
You've accomplished both beautifully.
Brave man.
And very talented too.
What determines the days' desire to work with what medium? You said you wanted to try a new brush. Is there some other muse that pops up over breakfast that sways you in one direction or another?
David! Love your blog...met you through Theresa Rankin. Enjoy your process photos with watercolor portraiture. I started in watercolor 6 years ago, and drifted to acrylic, pastel, then finally oil. Am going back to watercolor when hubby Randy and I are sponsors for Charles Reid in our area Oct 6! i suspect that the skills I have worked on in other mediums will help in watercolor now!
Nice and washy... well done!
Bonnie: My muse on this one was pretty prosaic...I'm preparing to conduct a water color portrait wrkshp. this weekend. And again, I wanted to paint his spiky hair. Hope those hurricanes are missing your island!
Vicki: Charles Reis!? He's my hero! Has been for 30 plus yrs. Thanks for dropping by. Glad you found me off of Theresa's blog. She is a fab. painter. Welcome back to water color with Mr. Reid!
Hi Tony! Thanks. I tell my students that most of the time, you want to start out with large juicy washes and then work down towards the details. Gee...just like a lot of other mediums. I'm looking forward to seeing some new posts on your blog. You are a wonderful artist.
great watercolours and venus is amazing!
Thanks Helene!
I missed the last few blogs you've posted... can't imagine why, but oh my did I MISS them... WOW... It is so fantastic watching how these people emerge under your artful brush...
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.... What a pleasure to see. Thank you!
Thank you Marian. I'm hoping to post s few more soon.
This is a cool look. I wonder if I can find a rug like this to wear.
Onpainting (W.R.) If you do, send me a photo!
I could actually be happy with this as a finished piece at any of the stages you showed. How often does that happen??
Thanks Nick. Always appreciate comments from a dynamite h2o artist such as yourself!
Post a Comment