Here's a start to the first study of the new year—let's hope the rest of the year goes better! This is one of my favorite subjects (Dave) in one of my favorite activities (vacationing). What could possibly go wrong?
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| Sur le Pont Neuf 11"x14" |
First of all, you may recall my problems with transfer paper (the new formulation is awful) forced me to actually draw. I found something I thought be great—a Frixion pen. It's supposed to be erasable...even under paint...with a little rubber eraser or with heat. Answer to my prayers, right? Well, it works on smoother paper, but when I tried it on watercolor paper, here's the result after both friction and heat:
And, as you can see in the painting, that area took the paint differently. So, having already ruined the painting, I'm using it as a color study and to experiment with texturing. But I have three of the pens, so I'm determined to do more testing to make it work. The alternatives are to stick to direct painting or to get so good at drawing that I won't need to change any marks.
If I see pencil marks from the drawing on a watercolor painting I always think I am getting a bonus, like when you buy a used book and discover that it has underlined lines and notes. But if you must get rid of lines I suggest you use watercolor pencils. I use raw and burnt sienna because they blend in with the paint you put over them and it's like they were never there. I would not recommend a blue watercolor pencil and certainly not a phthalo blue one.
ReplyDeleteI like the budding background and Dave has an interesting cherubic look at this point, but those hands look a little too big. Maybe you could put blue mittens on him.
FYI, I see the issue with the paint, but overall it looks like a direct painting, like you quickly painted him on site. It has that freshness.
ReplyDeleteHe really had a great time! And I completely agree about the sitting.
ReplyDeleteOh, I didn't realize he was sitting until I read Sara's comment. Yeah, he needs to bend a little more and cast a bit of a shadow where he's sitting. Otherwise, I think the painting looks great. The colors of the sky and wall/bench looks gorgeous and of course, Dave look so relaxed and happy. You don't need no sticking tracing paper. Look at all those direct painting sketches you've been doing so effectively. Not to mention you did take my Drawing Class.
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