This is my third octopus watercolor! The first two were deep sixed!! With this final one, I first laid down, wet-on-wet, warm colors in a soupy tea-like consistency (lots of water,,,let it flow!). After that dried, I painted in a similar palette of colors but more saturated and brighter. As I was doing this, I had to work in my darker values to bring out the form of Mr. (or Ms.) Octopus. The last operation was to heavy up my preliminary pencil drawing to sharpen him (or her) up a little more. What a challenge this was with the equally challenging medium of watercolor. One might call it a "octopus-challenge-squared- watercolor-painting". This third painting will not be deep sixed.
16 comments:
Truly beautiful and worth the effort, David. I like that you are always learning and challenging yourself, as accomplished as you are!
Awesome, David....I don't believe I've ever seen any of my blogger friends paint an octopus before. This is a first! I agree, you should not deep six this one. Great job!
ooooo this looks fabulous!!!!
How appropriate! Watercolor is perfect for this subject and the other water life you've been doing.
I've only done one fish with watercolor fish and it came out very well, you inspire me to do more and have more fun with color!
Your squishy friend is in such warm, honey-like colors, beautiful.
As cool as an octopus, the painting does him or her justice. I'd like to see you play more with granulating colors in the skin texture, maybe, just MHO :) Like I should suggest what you should do?!?! And I do believe this is the very first octopus painting I've seen, too - bravo for breaking new boundaries.
Great octopus, and I predict that this one will win sales, and influence viewers. I see great interest in your octopi in the future.
Your fan in Toronto,
Barbara
Autumn, As they say, "no pain, no gain", and this octopus was a wee bit of a pain.
Carol, Am I the first on my block to do such a subject?!
Cynthia, glad you like this tentacled guy!
Dianne, painting fish is indeed a good excuse to play with color and super juicy washes.
Rhonda, you are spot on with your suggestion, and I shall try it if I tackle this subject again.
Barbara, one never knows what will float people's boats!!
I'm glad you didn't give up because it came out wonderful
Thanks, Fay!
Yout watercolor paintings are sophisticated and your portraits are absolutely brilliant! I follow you.
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Lars, Your portraiture work is fantastic...zehr gut! I'm following you.
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