Watercolor study-1 1/2hrs
 

Most of my work from life class has laid around the studio for ages. After all, who wants to buy a portrait of someone they don't know. It's good to have this chance to share some of these. Very little was done to the painting after I brought it home.

Approx. 13" x 10 1/2"

Lovely -- very expressive!

Jim,

I see that you have made some drawing lines under your w/c. Can you remember how much of the 1 1/2 hours you spent on this under drawing, getting the geography correct, before you began to paint? Thanks, wonderful painting by the way.

Mike,

I'll guess 15 minutes for the drawing which is kept somewhat lose, sketchy, and sometimes playful. I have been drawing for many years and trust that I will be fairly accurate with key features and worry more so about the composition. I also know that I will be drawing with my brush as I proceed. In my first wash I try to get interesting local color in a light but not too timid color and often leaving highlights as white paper. The middle values define the forms and is the step that requires the most courage as I try to establish the major forms, keep color interesting, and soften edges without too much playing around and risking muddy water. If that second step (I'm oversimplifying) is correctly done I have confidence that I can place features accurately and often won't search for initial drawing underneath. I'll check the model and locate the iris where it should be, and not necessarily where I first drew it.

I like to save the initial drawing as it allows the viewer to share the experience and therefore I only remove lines that are somewhat distracting.

Mediums
 

Jim, I think artists that can (and do) switch mediums regularly like Sargent and Homer only benefit from the switch- not unlike switching from stills to portraits. This looseness and expressiveness will find it's way into your oils very naturally. Good stuff!

Divine!
 

Thank you for explaining your watercolor process so succinctly. I am printing this thread out to keep with my watercolors!

There is a market for portraits beyond the family of the sitter when the painting goes beyond the likeness to tell the story of an indiviual so eloquently and beautifully that it transcends the individual and relates to us all.

Your studies are precious. Please preserve them carefully!