STEP ONE
After selecting the best photos to work with and that would work well together, I drew up a very rough layout to get the balance right.
STEP ONE
After selecting the best photos to work with and that would work well together, I drew up a very rough layout to get the balance right.
STEP ONE
I began by drawing up the composition. Having established a composition (using Adobe Photoshop to manipulate photographs), I then sketched a basic outline using a broad grid.
STEP ONE
I did a minimal drawing with a light blue pastel pencil to establish the overall composition; and the line of the river bank and placement of trees.
STEP ONE
Very basic application here of a squiggly line to represent the top of the wave, running left to right and down the right hand slope of the gathering section of the wave…
STEP ONE
Pencil sketch for composition While the initial rough sketch usually takes the least physical time of the whole painting process, it can take a considerable period to settle on the right composition before putting pencil to watercolour paper.
STEP ONE
I’ve chosen to paint a sunny fun day in the water! On a quarter sheet of 640g H/P watercolour paper I have airbrushed a background using Cadmium yellow and Cobalt in separate washes.
STEP ONE
To begin a work, I always use a soft thin charcoal stick. Quite a few. This is good for shading and structuring the composition. I also use my hands and fingers to help shape the forms of the work.
STEP ONE
On my 640g HP watercolour paper I have lightly airbrushed some Yellow light, Cobalt blue and Viridian. Once this had dried completely I sketched up my design.
STEP ONE
Once I have an animal in mind which I am interested in painting, I ask the owners if I can take some photos. In this case it is a neighbour’s dog, a Pomeranian called Max.
STEP ONE
Using the recent plein air pastel painting as my reference and with a stick of Vine Charcoal, I drew in the major shapes of my landscape composition on to a half sheet of Art Spectrum Storm Blue Colourfix sanded paper.