September 2022

Net shed on Kupreanof Island

Leave a Comment /

When I was in Alaska last month, I made a pencil drawing of a net shed on Kupreanof Island. These net sheds are used by fishermen to store their nets when not in use. At high tide a boat can pull up to the shed and unload or load the nets.

I made a value study in black and white that I like a lot. Then I made a color version that I didn’t like as much. I put too much color in the foreground rocks, then I had to wipe it out with a wet tissue. I think the foreground needs to be muted in order to draw attention to the shed.

Value study

Net shed on Kupreanof Island Read More »

Two attempts at a portrait

2 Comments /

Yesterday I made a copy of a portrait of a young man in Charles Reid’s book, Portrait Painting in Watercolor (pages 148-149). I was happy with the looseness of it, but the proportions weren’t very good. So I tried it again today and I like the results better. You can compare the two attempts below.

Second attempt
First attempt

Two attempts at a portrait Read More »

Portrait sketches

Leave a Comment /

In his book, Portrait Painting in Watercolor, Charles Reid includes some portraits that are just quick sketches, warmups in a way. They help keep you loose by leaving out some of the detail. Here are a couple of sketches I painted in that spirit.

From page 140 in Reid’s book
From a portrait I found on the Museum app.

Portrait sketches Read More »

Skin tones and lost edges

Leave a Comment /

I made this portrait from a photo on Museum/Sktchy trying to follow Charles Reid’s instructions on mixing skin color. I used Winsor red and Cadmium yellow pale (for warmth) with some cerulean blue (to cool it down). Also I tried to let some of the edges of the hair get lost, like in her left cheek and forehead. That way the border of the face isn’t just a hard outline, but has softness to it. Same thing with the loose brush strokes for her hair on the outside.

Skin tones and lost edges Read More »

Another portrait

Leave a Comment /

While I’m on a roll, I thought I’d make another portrait. This one is also from the Museum app photos. I used color this time and tried to get the values right. I like the changes in the skin color and the light areas on the forehead. I find it really hard to get the dark areas of the face dark and make the transition from light to dark. But the shapes and values in this portrait are basically right.

Another portrait Read More »

Portrait for Museum app

2 Comments /

Since I last posted, I’ve visited friends in Alaska and hiked the Aurora Ridge trail in Olympic National Park. So I haven’t been painting. But tonight I got back to the drawing board and made this portrait for the Museum app, using one of their photos as a reference. It’s good to get the brushes out again.

Portrait for Museum app Read More »