Monday, June 29, 2009

The Horse's Ass

This is a recent watercolor commission painted on 140lb cold press watercolor paper. I rarely (never) stretch my paper. This entire image was painted wet (sometimes VERY WET) on dry (meaning the dry watercolor paper). I started by laying down a medium toned color of cool blue, a touch of green and brown. I used a large round sable brush. Every time, before I dip my brush into color, I dip it into clean water and shake off the excess so that it is saturated but not dripping flooded. After the preliminary cool colors dried, I laid down another glaze of dark- toned horse colors letting them all intermingle wet-on-wet. I also tilted my drafting board about forty five degree, so that after I applied the paint, the washes would RUN (see the horse's ass). Now this is what watercolor painting is all about! This is taking advantage of the transparent fluid nature of the medium. Note in the third photo (click on it to enlarge) how the color I applied around the hoof is running down into the STILL WET cast shadow area on the ground. In the forth image, you can see how I was still working on the rider after having applied some energetic splatter work on the ground. The last photo is the watercolor completed. Notice the minimal amount of hard edges and dry looking paint...it's WET! For me, a watercolor painting must have a modicum of wet looking passages (a condition where the different color pigments can freely move about and intermingle). Isn't that why we define watercolor painting as CONTROLLING THE FLOOD?!

25 comments:

Stephie Butler said...

Stunning work, Watercolour at it's best..Thanks for sharing the step by step process.

Dan Kent said...

Wow. Thanks for explaining your method. I love how all the colors run into one another. This makes it all so interesting (and beautiful) to look at. As a beginning watercolorist, just looking at these steps teaches a lot.

Maria Kovalenko Leysens said...

thanks for the play by play on the painting. It is nice to see how you work and the results, so nice!!!
I am enjoying your blog.

Jan Blawat said...

The horse's name was actually Big Ears, but her ass was one of her best features. Thank you, David, you've brought her back to life for me.

Kathy said...

I see you were horsing around in your studio today!! Very nice. Yes, I love the loose look but I am a tight painter 99% of the time so I really appreciate your work. I never would have thought of the med. value of cool blue. Great idea!

Jennifer McChristian said...

Hi David,

Great commission piece! Thanks for the in depth and informative description of your water color painting process.
Makes me want to revisit watercolors again :)

abhishek singh said...

Brilliant , love the blends in this ,
:)
ur work is very beautiful

Annaquarel.les said...

Yes indeed. This is what watercolour is all about. Thank you for the description of the painting process, David! See you soon!

__ said...

Stunning! Thank you for sharing it. There're lots to learn in this painting...

Carmen said...

Wonderful and interesting job. Thank you very much for show as you did.

Greetings

Barbara Muir said...

Hey David,

Right on. I used to love that about watercolour, the unpredictable movement of the paint with water -- the opposite of prissy. This is gorgeous.

Take care,

Barbara

David Lobenberg said...

Gladya like "Big Ears" (name of this horse), Stephie.

David Lobenberg said...

Enjoy your watercoloring, Dan, and practice, practice, practice, and then...practice some more!

David Lobenberg said...

Thank you, Marie!

David Lobenberg said...

I captured her ass! Thanks Jan. Now let's get the painting into your hands.

David Lobenberg said...

Kathy, Horsing around with watercolor paints don't get no betta.

David Lobenberg said...

Jennifer, If anybody could handle watercolor, it would be you.

David Lobenberg said...

Abhishek, Thanks! Your work is fantastic! You professional illustrator/ artists know your stuff.

David Lobenberg said...

Hola, Anna! Thank you. I'm glad you agree with my thesis.

David Lobenberg said...

Thank you Yasemin!

David Lobenberg said...

Thank, Carmen, and thanks for your self portrait submittal.

David Lobenberg said...

Can't be a sissy to paint in h2o, Barbara. Oops!...you spelled watercolour wrong(:

billythekid said...

Wonderful Watercolors you have.

Muffy Sainte-Marie said...

beautiful!

David Lobenberg said...

Thank you, Muffy S M!