Bringing the Everyday to Life

This step will be the most difficult to discuss but is also a very important step.  One of my favorite watercolor artists, Joseph Zbukvic has said, "if you can already see the painting in your mind's eye, then you have it."

Doing a value sketch and drawing the composition on my paper really helps with this visualization process.  However, the real key to understanding how to visualize your painting is to practice!  You have to paint!   The more you paint and the more experience you have, the easy it will be to visualize your final painting.  So, while the first wash is drying, I am observing and contemplating the scene in front of me, my value sketch, and my painting.  I am trying to visualize the painting, thinking about the steps I need to take to get there, and looking for any added inspiration.  How do I know how to do this?  How can I visualize and then execute?  I will say it again...Practice!  I am still practicing.  I am by no means perfect.  My final paintings almost always look different from what I visualized.  However, sometimes I like it better and sometimes I don't...

So, why go through this if it doesn't always get me where I am planning?... I don't want to get too philosophical, but if you have no clear idea of your goal, you certainly won't get there!  Learning how to visualize will really improve your paintings.  Yes, technique is important.  Learning how to draw and apply paint are important.  However, if you don't have something to share or say, then it will only ever be paint on paper, not a painting...

Another artist I greatly admire, Robert Wade, has a section on visualizing in his book, "Robert Wade's Watercolor Workshop Handbook".  However, he calls it "Visioneering".   I love that term.  He says, "One of the most important aspects of my way of working is how I apply my process of Visioneering.  I'm never satisfied with representing a subject just how it is.  I want to give my own interpretation of what;s there and my reaction to it.  In other words, I don't want to paint how it looks, I want to paint how it FEELS."   His book is where I learned to do the 3-4 quick studies when on location as a way to get to know a new site.  This is practice, not finished paintings.  Though they are a lot of fun!  I divide a quarter sheet of watercolor paper into 3, Robert Wade uses a half sheet and divides it into 4-5.  Then without value sketches, I give my self 1.5 hours, though I am trying for 1 hour, to paint all the studies.  This is challenging, but is a great exercise in "Visioneering".  You want to visualize each one.  You can then use one of the 3-5 sketches for a more finished painting.  I have been only doing this for a couple of months, but it has been great practice!  Give it a try!  The key is to think of them as sketches, not finished paintings...

Well, that is all I have to say on this step.  My next blog post will be on "Finishing the Painting".  I might have to have multiple posts for that topic.  I will see.  Until next time....Happy Painting!

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