Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Brazos


Brazos is one of the cowboys I photographed back in May in Fort Worth.  I have done a painting previously and posted it as a WIP on June 25.  I really like this picture of him and decided to take another stab at it yesterday.  I'm pleased with it so far.  I can really see the improvement I have made when I compare the two.  I used a bit of masking on the wisps of hair against his hat.  Hopefully that will work out OK.  Didn't think I could successfully paint around those little grey hairs.  I also made an attempt to depict the rough texture of his skin. I also want to get some of the detail in his scarf and that will take some time and detailed drawing.  As usual I couldn't wait to get started on his face and hat so this is where I am at this point.  This is on 140# Arches stretched cold press.  Not my favorite weight paper but it is fine if I take the time to stretch it.  I have a bit of it in my stash and need to use it.  Good paper is by no means inexpensive but well worth it in terms of results. 

Thanks for reading! 

Monday, September 26, 2011

More work on these two

Well, I have done a bit more on the two of these.  The African girl is coming along.  Soon is helping me get the detailing done.  She did the eye on your left in class last Thursday and I did the one on your right.  I also have added more color to her face and hair as well as her clothing.  Clothing I'm not too happy with.  I'm not great with fabric.  The masking is still on the hair fringes around her head and will not be removed until I am finished with the background.  Then I will remove the masking and detail the little strands of hair. 

The "railroad man" below has had a first wash added to the background, cobalt blue.  I have worked on adding color and dimension to his arm.  The hair on his arm is still masked.  Need to do more work to the hat and shirt.

Boots



I took a picture of a cowboy with these interesting boots and spurs on his feet back in May when I attended an event in the Fort Worth stockyard area.  Lots of folks in costume as well as the cowboys who drive the Fort Worth herd.  The Fort Worth herd is a herd of longhorn cattle and they are driven down the main thoroughfare of the area daily.  It is a very popular tourist attraction and basically I really love the stockyard area overall. 

While snapping pictures of interesting cowboys in their very authentic dress, one pointed out his friend's boots and spurs.  I agreed that they were unusual and snapped a few pictures of them from different angles.  I chose this one to start and drew it onto 300# Arches cold pressed paper a couple months ago.  Then I couldn't decide how to start or what I wanted to end up with so it just sat on a shelf until yesterday.  I liberally used masking on the metal parts of the spurs in order to save the highlights.  I know I don't want just a pair of brown boots, so I have added some washes that include plum and blue shades along with the brown.  I have also started adding a few details, working slowly so that I don't mess it up.  I often get in too much of a hurry and add other layers or details too soon.  We all know how that turns out!

Gavin and Lucah progress

Gavin above, Lucah below

I have held my breath this morning and started laying in color for hair.  Geez, I hate doing hair!  I never feel very comfortable with painting hair and I'm always afraid that I will ruin what otherwise might have turned into a good painting.  Anyway, not finished as you can see.  Also not sure what I will do on the background of each.  Decisions, decisions!

Monday, September 19, 2011

New paintings of Gavin and Lucah

I am working on these two new paintings, using the techniques that I am learning from Soon right now.  Very different than the Ted Nuttall paintings I have done of these two snapshots.  Those are in earlier posts.  I really like both methods.   Ted's method has a more "artistic" style while Soon's is more realistic. 

Both of these are on Arches 300# cold press paper.  I used masking fluid on areas where I wanted to save the whites.  I sometimes just paint around those areas to save the white of the paper but don't always succeed.  Hence the masking this time around.


Progress on a few paintings

Thought I'd post my progress on these three.  They are still not finished but coming along. 






Saturday, September 10, 2011

Work with Soon

Well, I wrote all of this just a bit ago and somehow lost the whole thing!  Yikes!  So here we go again,

I have been attending watercolor classes with Soon Warren the past two Thursdays.  I want to bring you up to date of the things I am working on in those classes.  Below is the reference photo of a sunflower in a crystal bowl, which is the group project, and my WIP on this project.




I started with Arches 300# cold press, which works best for Soon's techniques.  After transferring the drawing, I did a TON of masking to save the whites in the crystal.  Next I wet the entire sheet and did pale washes of a mix of aureolin and cad yellow on the upper parts of the paper and permanent rose on the lower part where the cloth is and lower areas of the bowl.  When all of that was dry, I did the next wash on the flower which is a stronger mix of cad yellow and aureolin.  That is the extent of the progress at this point.

Next is a painting of a young girl in Africa, the reference of which is a photo by Babasteve.  Steve generously gave his permission for me to use this image.  This work is on Arches 140# stretched cold pressed paper.  After transferring the drawing, I used making fluid to saves whites in her eyes, on her hair, a few places on her face and the zipper on her jacket.  Then I began the washes.  First a thin wash of cerulean blue on the wood on your left against which she is leaning.  Then washes of a mixture of aureolin and cad yellow over the rest of the painting.  Once that was dry, I began to add stronger mixtures of those colors along with quin gold, burnt sienna and permanent rose, developing shadow areas and hair patterns.  This is a totally different technique and look than what I learned with Ted.  I'm thrilled to have two techniques that I love and can use depending on the subject and feeling I want to convey.


This morning I started on this painting of a railroad worker.  It is on Arches 300# cold pressed paper.  After transferring the  drawing, I masked the whites of his eyes, a couple places on his ears and the fringes of white hair on his arm.  Once that was dry I proceeded with washes of aureolin and cad yellow on his skin, adding darker mixtures that included quin gold, burnt sienna and permanent rose in shadow areas.  I also did a mixture of cobalt, mineral violet and burnt sienna for the shadow areas of his cap.  I'm pleased with this so far.


Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Cooler weather!!!!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate this weather after the summer we've had!  This morning I took my daily walk in 52 degree temps.  What a relief!

I have been painting but have not gotten things posted here.  I also started my watercolor classes with Soon Warren last Thursday.  She teaches weekly at the Hobby Lobby in Fort Worth and rarely does she ever have an opening.  However, I'm thrilled that she was able to find a spot for me in the afternoon class so now I will be trying to learn every little tidbit I can from her.  If you are familiar with her work, you know how exciting this is for me.

I'll try to get some new things posted this week so that you'll know I really have been painting!  LOL!!!

Enjoy the beginning of fall no matter where you are.  Thanks for reading!