I have always much admired those beautifully detailed pencil drawings that some talented artists are able to create, sadly not me. But I think that is one reason I enjoy painting in Payne's Grey. It creates a dramatic piece, a serious looking painting and is very satisfying to create. It is a colour which works so well when painting elephants and rhinos especially.
I begin as always with a line drawing.
Then I can get down to studying the animal, where the lights are and the shadows. The textures that make up the skin. I start at one end and work my way across, no magic here just careful and interesting mark making. Just Payne's grey and water.
I love the way the animal starts to appear, a real solid shape. I like to blur the feet so it doesn't have a definite end on the earth. I want it all to work as a whole. The skill with watercolour is particularly in the amounts of water and paint used, I just practice and try to get it looking 'right'. On I go
It is in essence a simple tonal study . I love the dark shadows as they really make the image 'pop'
Finally I added some Payne's grey to the outline of the rhino so you don't lose the shape of his back. It also adds some more contrast to what I hope is a dramatic painting.
2 comments
How do you think your detailed pencil work influences your attempts at watercolor painting, and do you feel this contributes to or inhibits your ability to create looser, more expressive pieces?
Regard Ilmu Komunikasi
It is funny, I do pencil drawings and sometimes it feels like I am drawing every single hair. I have always wanted to paint lovely loose watercolours but when I have tried in the past it has never worked out. I love your watercolours and so does my mum. I recently bought her a print of one of your hares for her birthday and she loves it. So I just wanted to say thank you and tell you I was very impressed with how quickly I received the print and the card.