Four Step Watercolor

Step 1 ...Go the Morgue File and find a picture that is free . Then plug in the darkest of the dark pattern shapes. If it "reads dog" at this stage you are off to a good start. 

Step two..find the lightest white shapes and paint them in according to value shape patterns. This is going into your highest "key" of color hues now. Just concentrate on connecting shapes . Don't over think. 

Step Three...work on the supporting background. Find those value shapes and when you have the darkest  ones established we will move on to mid-tones. 

Step Four ...put in the middle value shapes. Nothing in this step can be as dark or as light as what ever colors you have already used. This requires making test dabs before applying paint. 

So let's review..this painting started with the darkest darks...then went to the lightest lights and then finally to mid-tones. Not my usual way to work but preserving the whites of the paper required it in the case. 

I call this painting Asleep at the Easel ...

And now a plug for my book about how to paint using this strategy 

My Book

Thanksgiving Day Rose

Thanksgiving Day Rose 

watercolor 

7x10 inches 

Today I am thankful for many things. I feel blessed to have art in my life daily and the internet friends I have made sustain me beyond any efforts I could summon on my own. This is a rose from my heart  to you for being there and holding my hand and "head" as the journey continues.

The Art Exhibit

The Art Exhibit 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 inches 

Matted 12x12 inches. 

We have all been this person at one time or another. I am under the influence of Peggi Kroll Roberts here. She has a way of massing values and finding essential forms that is almost graphic in quality.

This painting  can be found here

The Girl

The Girl 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 inches 

matted 12x12 inches

 

Reds and greens , structural forms and value shapes. 

The essentials of what painting is. 

A Four Step Hound

A Four Step Hound 

This hound from the Morgue File decided to be a "four stepper". Here are the steps for building this type of painting based on value shapes and patterns. 

Step One. ...Establish the darkest value shapes. Connect them creating an overall pattern that "reads" dog. If this can't be achieved stop here and choose another image to work from. This is the foundation of the building and if it is not strong the painting will fail. 

Step Two...begin to apply mid-tones. No color used here can be as dark or darker than what was established in step one. Make test dabs before applying paint. This is a slower process but essential. 

Step Three....add final washes  and leave some of the white paper as your lightest value. 

If you want to see more of how to paint this way click here My Book

The Work

I am working on both human and pet friends. 

This was a good start for the week. 

Twin Roses Print

Twin Roses 

Watercolor print 

I am now offering many of my most popular paintings in print form. The prints are high quality and come in a variety of sizes. They can be purchased framed or unframed. They can also be printed on canvas and metal. 

There are other gift possibilities as well, pillows, tote bags and more. 

Here is a link to my website and the vendor Fine Art America. Prints

Prints On Demand

It took me some time to get on the prints on demand wagon. I am happy to say I am all on board now. I will be adding more images soon. I have six to start with and an amazing array of products that can be made on demand from those paintings. Here is a link for you to take a look. Prints and products on demand

A Thing to Ponder

Things to Ponder 

I wanted to see if  the process of painting is  different if you know the subject or not. It is not a surprise to find out the answer is yes. 

I want to explore that further . For now I will ponder it and consider how to use the implications. 

When I know more I will share those discoveries. For now I will generalize and say I have observed knowing the person makes the process more difficult for me. 

Saturdays Child

Saturdayschild 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

matted 12x12 inches 

This painting can be found HERE

 

This has been a week of painting people. I am enjoying this and hope to do more . I am looking for photographs to work from. If you have one you would like to see me try send it to me HERE

Olivia

Olivia 

7.9x7.9 inches matted 12x12 inches 

This painting can be found here 

 

Here are the steps for building this painting in three steps 

 

Step one. 

Step 2

 

 

 

Step 3

Faces

I call this one Scrunch! 

Now on to another three stepper! 

Step one.....establish the overall pattern of mid tones. Connect those shapes and move on to step two.

 

 

Step two..start moving towards the darkest patterns of value shapes. Fine warm tones for the skin and cooler ones for clearly defined shadow areas. 

 

 

Step three...make final adjustments. Hit some areas with darker values to make the painting have a stronger value range than the photograph had. It needs to pop or else it will just be another "meh" of a watercolor. It can all fail at this point but that is why there are second chances. 

 

THe X Files

The X Files 

watercolor 

7.9x7.9 

Matted 12x12 inches 

It is time for a three step watercolor. I wrote a book about how to paint in this fun way that eliminates so much of the watercolor frustration we are all familiar with. 

You can find the book HERE

and on Amazon. 

 

Now here are the steps 

 

 

Select a picture that is free and not owned by anybody else. The Morgue File is a great resource for this. Then apply the pattern of midtones  on the skin. 

 

 

 

Now add some darker midtones and move into the hair areas. Find the value shapes and paint what you see not what you "think" you see. make sure all these value shapes are connected and form a pattern that is not confusing to the eye. 

 

 

 

The hard work is done. Now hit the darkest darks with paint that is the thicker  kind of like "gravy" . Be sure of where you are going and move with accuracy and a fully charged brush.