Two Starts and Stops - Full sheet watercolors

This selfie, I just entered into the 34 Annual International Show for the San Diego Watercolor Society, and the "Pagoda Garden Delight" is a scene that we will be painting in a workshop I'll be conducting at University Art, here in Sacramento, CA. It is a great exercise in saturated color, value control, and a little negative painting. Both paintings are on 22 by 30 inch, 140 lb. Arches cold press watercolor paper.

Practice, practice, practice.

Practicing or doing painting studies is like rehearsing for a stage play. You learn your lines and acting moves, tweak them, and become ready to entertain and engage the audience. I never tire doing the same portrait subject, because it only improves my work. Here are some acrylic and watercolor studies of a California cow girl.

"Cheeky Me" Art Club Demo

Last week, I gave an hour watercolor demo. of my "California-Vibe" style of portraiture at The Sacramento Fine Arts Center. I will be returning to the center on May 24, 25, and 26 to conduct my "California-Vibe Watercolor Portraiture" workshop. The first photo shows how far I got into the painting at the end of the hour demo. The second photo shows the painting completed after about another hour's work in my studio.

Getting closer?????

Two thousand watercolor artists the world over entered The Art Of Watercolour's (a prominent French art magazine) first World Watercolour Compitition with moire being one of them. A few months ago, I past the first judging stage, and last week, I past the second stage. The competitors have now been culled down to 294 selected artists (that's "artistes" in French, and I have probably misspelled the word!). Twenty five to thirty will finally be chosen in the third and final judging stage for the winter exhibit in bon France, and I am hoping that I will be lucky enough to make that final cut. Like my French???

Thinking in Chinese and Heading for Salt Lake City!

I find that watercoloring a portrait in a traditional, straight ahead manner BORING. I paint in what I call my "California-Vibe" style. In other words,  a portrait that is loaded with amped up Xpression . . .  inventive paint application, evocative design elements, dramatic composition, and no-holds-barred color. This post shows the progressive stages in one of my latest creations. The majority of these CA-Vibe pieces work, but every once in a while, they can derail. What do you think of this one, kind reader????? By the way, I threw in that Salt Lake City at sunset photo, because I fly there tomorrow to conduct my first out-of-state "California-Vibe" portraiture workshop for Studio 21. I will be conduction a second one back in Sacramento this May, and my third in August at Bend, Oregon. I'm doing my best to spread the vibes!!

The one that didn't get away!

I charged hard on this one . . . a bonsai attack! By the time I got to the stage in the fourth photo here, I felt my watercolor portrait had turned into a steaming pile of paint poop! Pooh!! Undaunted, I continued my attack and turned the proverbial sow's ear into a silk purse!!! Can you spot the change ups?

Male subject in charcoal, water color, and acrylic

First I drew this male subject (an ex-student of mine and quite a good pen and ink man) in SOFT charcoal. Next, I loosely shaded with the same soft charcoal. Then I deepened some of the darkest facial features and outside contour lines with a semi-soft charcoal pencil. After that procedure, I pulled out a Kleenex and wiped over the entire drawing. You can see how it spread a light gray film of charcoal over the entire page. I went back in with the semi-soft charcoal pencil again to re-establish my dark and middle values. Last, but certainly not least, I erased out highlights with a soft eraser pencil. This is a fabulous method for charcoal sketching! 

The other four paintings are watercolor and an acrylic study.