Bringing the Everyday to Life

Hello Everyone!  As promised, here is another step-by-step painting demonstration.  I did this for a class I taught a couple of weeks ago.  I painted from a photograph I took, which as you can see is not really exciting, but I liked the shape of the barn and the shadows.   That is what I look for in a good photo to paint from.  It is not really about the exact subject.

After doing a small value sketch in my sketchbook, I drew out the composition on my paper.  I decided what to change and where to simplify as I did the value sketch.  You can see that I left out the building on the right, changed the trees around, and changed the front of the barn on the left.  I also lowered the back hillside.  All these decisions strengthened my design, as well as and simplified things.  I included an image of the start of my first wash.  Do you see the "bead" of watercolor paint, were the water is starting to pool?  That is really important!  Don't loose the bead!  I have my paper at about a 40 degree angle so that this bead can form.  As long as it is there, you can keep your wash alive.  If it starts to dry too much, you are done.  Don't go back into that area or you will get balloons and hard edges.

 The first lower photo shows the finished first wash.  See how much lighter watercolor dries...  This was one continuous wash being careful to cut around the areas I wanted white.  After the first wash is dry, I then added some mid values and darks of the trees and painted the roof at the same time when the trees weren't quite dry.  I wanted my shapes to connect.  Notice how careful I painted the fence...not really.  I just quickly indicated it.  When painting back ground, you need to remember that it is just background.  Paint it as such, simply and without too much detail.  As one of my favorite watercolors artist (Joseph Zbuvick) says, "Indicate don't state".   I also want to draw your attention to the tonal change of the first wash.  Notice how much lighter the first wash appears after some added darks.  This is why you should paint your first wash darker than you think you will need.

 Next, I added some definition to the foreground by using the side of my brush with some darker colors, splattering, and using clean water to soften some edges.  I also added the dark trees on the right side of the painting and began adding some details on the barn.  The last touches are the details, windows, doors, fence, telephone poles, and the figure.   Notice how I didn't make my fence post or planks on the barn perfect, straight, and uniform.  I varied them for interest.  In reality, you wouldn't want your fence to look like this, but visually it has more character and rhythm.  Also, notice that grass and trees don't have to be green!  The sky doesn't have to be blue!  You as a painter get to decide the mood and feel of your painting.  You are the boss.  Don't let the photo be the boss of you!  I am not a photographer...if I painted only what my photo had, my paintings would be as mediocre and boring as my photo.  This what I love about being an artist!  I added the figure last by using white gouache for the highlights and then indicating a figure using simple shapes.  Don't even try to add details for a face!   Simple is better!

Well,  that is my finished painting!  I wish you all success in whatever you are doing.  Until next time,  Happy Painting!

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