Another dragon, a work in progress. I’m applying very thin layers of underpainting on this one, trying to build up the three-dimensionality of this guy. Just how pale? Compare the painting to the worktable. Very pale. Stay tuned. I’m really intrigued by his eyes. I’m not sure how I’m going to keep their expressiveness when I apply color to the pupil.
Step 1. I started this piece when I was still working with my watercolor teacher. At her suggestion, I started with a combination of new gamboge and cobalt. At this stage, there is the new gamboge layer, then a green layer with salt. Step 2. At this point, I considered the piece done, but I was unhappy with the way the new gamboge overpowered everything else. Also, the color simply does not scan well, so…
Mr. Grumpy, watercolor on Canson 140#, 3.5 x 5.5 I did this quick rendering of Mr. Grumpy in watercolor several weeks ago, for practice. I think the boy needs more texture and more drama.
Imagined Lizard, watercolor on Arches 140#, 9×12 I worked on this piece in my last two watercolor classes. The goal was to learn to build depth through layers of color, and to build a wet-in-wet background. It is loosely based on an iguana, but not intended to be realistic.
Dragon, underpainting (left), finished (right) 9×12 watercolor on Arches 140# This is my first attempt to use what I learned in class on a piece of my own. On the left is stage one, the underpainting. On the right, the finished work. The scan is oversaturating the yellow. It’s much more subtle on the original. The painting combines underpainting, wet-in-wet, and layering.
