Shot, 2010, watercolor, 20 x 15 in.
Some detail views...
The closer you get, the more watercolory it becomes.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
New watercolor
This watercolor is just off the drawing board...
Shot, 2010, watercolor, 20 x 15 in.
Some detail views...
The closer you get, the more watercolory it becomes.
Shot, 2010, watercolor, 20 x 15 in.
Some detail views...
The closer you get, the more watercolory it becomes.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Painting Proof
Here are some more in-process images from the studio, this time for "Proof." This watercolor, along with twenty other recent paintings, are in my solo show at Left Coast Galleries in Studio City through May 25, 2010.
I started by masking off the foreground areas, using cut out drawing paper sealed around the edges with drafting tape, plus a little liquid frisket for the antennae and various irregular edges. Then painted the background wet-in-wet, and scrubbed out those circular shapes with a damp bristle brush after the whole thing was dry.
Next, lightly washed in the foreground hues. The citrus wedge is already too dark, but I'm hoping to scrub some of that off. Watercolor has a reputation for being unforgiving, but you can make adjustments as you go. You just can't go back to square one. Every mark is a commitment.
I gradually darkened the butterfly and glass shadows, and lightened the citrus wedge by rewetting and lifting off color. Slightly darkened some of the light areas of the table to make that refracted highlight look whiter than white.
Then layered washes on the butterfly wing, and darkened the abdomen...
Added some pale blue in the blur zone at the edge of the table, corrected the curve of the glass lip, lightened some of the cast shadows and added some diffraction rainbow effects. Okay, wow, am I really painting butterflies and rainbows now? It's like some 14-year-old girl is telling me what to do...
Anyway, that's it! Thanks for dropping by...
I started by masking off the foreground areas, using cut out drawing paper sealed around the edges with drafting tape, plus a little liquid frisket for the antennae and various irregular edges. Then painted the background wet-in-wet, and scrubbed out those circular shapes with a damp bristle brush after the whole thing was dry.
Next, lightly washed in the foreground hues. The citrus wedge is already too dark, but I'm hoping to scrub some of that off. Watercolor has a reputation for being unforgiving, but you can make adjustments as you go. You just can't go back to square one. Every mark is a commitment.
I gradually darkened the butterfly and glass shadows, and lightened the citrus wedge by rewetting and lifting off color. Slightly darkened some of the light areas of the table to make that refracted highlight look whiter than white.
Then layered washes on the butterfly wing, and darkened the abdomen...
Added some pale blue in the blur zone at the edge of the table, corrected the curve of the glass lip, lightened some of the cast shadows and added some diffraction rainbow effects. Okay, wow, am I really painting butterflies and rainbows now? It's like some 14-year-old girl is telling me what to do...
Anyway, that's it! Thanks for dropping by...
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Images from the studio
People often ask me for details about the watercolor process. Here are some pictures from the studio...
"Embrace" on the drawing table with all my tools.
Nearly finished.
Just getting started on "Pointed"
First the barbed wire, very lightly.
Taped off some of these criss-crossing wires with drafting tape while painting the background, which got too dark, so I had to lighten it with a damp toothbrush.
Taped off the birds and wire using drafting tape and then painted the sky using a subdued wet in wet technique.
Now the feathers, one at a time. But I had to use a small bristle brush to restore the convexity of this dove's back before continuing. This is another way of making minor corrections.
Starting on the top dove.
Top dove is still looking kind of watery at this stage. With staining pigments such as quinacridones and phthalocyanines, you can go over and over without the colors muddying much... You just have to be careful not to go too far. It's hard to make dark colors lighter with these pigments.
Darkening the wires...
Almost finished.
Scratched off some highlights with a dull x-acto knife, which I also used to clean up some of the edges for a crisp, sharp-focus effect
Done! I had this one on the drawing board longer than usual... about five weeks. If you haven't seen the show yet, it will at Left Coast Galleries in Studio City until May 25. Thanks for looking!
"Embrace" on the drawing table with all my tools.
Nearly finished.
Just getting started on "Pointed"
First the barbed wire, very lightly.
Taped off some of these criss-crossing wires with drafting tape while painting the background, which got too dark, so I had to lighten it with a damp toothbrush.
Taped off the birds and wire using drafting tape and then painted the sky using a subdued wet in wet technique.
Now the feathers, one at a time. But I had to use a small bristle brush to restore the convexity of this dove's back before continuing. This is another way of making minor corrections.
Starting on the top dove.
Top dove is still looking kind of watery at this stage. With staining pigments such as quinacridones and phthalocyanines, you can go over and over without the colors muddying much... You just have to be careful not to go too far. It's hard to make dark colors lighter with these pigments.
Darkening the wires...
Almost finished.
Scratched off some highlights with a dull x-acto knife, which I also used to clean up some of the edges for a crisp, sharp-focus effect
Done! I had this one on the drawing board longer than usual... about five weeks. If you haven't seen the show yet, it will at Left Coast Galleries in Studio City until May 25. Thanks for looking!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Solo show continues through May 25, 2010
Tilt, 2010, watercolor, 25 x 18 in.
Thanks everyone who came out last night and helped make the opening for "Enigmas and Elegies" such a success. Featuring over twenty of my recent paintings, this show explores the transparency and delicacy of watercolor applied to a number of delicate subjects. If you missed the opening, worry not! The show continues through May 25, 2010. Gallery hours are Tuesday - Saturday 11 am - 6 pm, and Sundays 12 - 5 pm.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Solo show at Left Coast Galleries
Please join us for the opening of "Enigmas and Elegies," a solo show of my latest watercolors at Left Coast Galleries in Studio City, CA from 6 - 9 pm on Saturday April 24, 2010. This show will continue through May 25.
Left Coast Galleries
12324 Ventura Boulevard
Studio City, CA 91604
www.leftcoastgalleries.com
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Some new watercolors
I have been busy painting some new watercolors for my upcoming solo show at Left Coast Galleries in Studio City...
Pointed, 2010, watercolor, 20 x 15 in.
Small pane, 2010, watercolor, 10 x 7 in.
Proof, 2010, watercolor, 25 x 18 in.
Embrace, 2010, watercolor, 8 x 6 in.
Icy, 2009, watercolor, 20 x 15 in.
Pointed, 2010, watercolor, 20 x 15 in.
Small pane, 2010, watercolor, 10 x 7 in.
Proof, 2010, watercolor, 25 x 18 in.
Embrace, 2010, watercolor, 8 x 6 in.
Icy, 2009, watercolor, 20 x 15 in.
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