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.
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.
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.
I haven’t been making watercolors because I’ve been busy with… well, life. I spent a couple of weeks working on Katy’s writing shed. I finished the drywall, mudding, taping, and sanding, and I laid the floor. It looks great. Then I went on two overnight hikes in Olympic National Park near Lake Crescent. So I’ve been busy.
But today I’m back in the studio, working on portraits. I made this portrait from a photo on the Museum app. This app is a platform where artists can upload their photos (“inspirations”) so that others can draw and paint them. It’s a young crowd, with lots of selfies.
I used the techniques described by Charles Reid in his book, Portrait Painting in Watercolor.
Today I took a break from hanging drywall in Katy’s writing shed and went to the Wednesday meeting of Poulsbo Art League. We meet on Wednesday afternoons to paint, draw, and generally hang out together.
I used Charles Reid’s book, Portrait Painting in Watercolor, to make this portrait. I followed the step-by-step instructions he provides. Charles Reid is one of the most famous modern watercolor painters, especially his portraits. He emphasizes that a portrait should have some hard edges and some soft edges. In other words, leave something for the viewer’s eye to fill in. Don’t paint every detail, but leave some room for the imagination. Try to capture the general impression of the person.
I started off with a light gray wash, leaving white paper for the highlights on the forehead, cheek, chin, and ear. In subsequent washes I added darker tones, scratching out some areas of the hair and blotting some areas with a tissue. Pretty pleased with the way it turned out.
Today I went to the Poulsbo city waterfront to paint with other PAL painters. Unfortunately, only Garven showed up, but at least there were two of us. It was hot already at nine in the morning. We walked the waterfront area and I finally seized on this scene to paint. I liked the vertical aspect of the trees above the beach.
This morning I explored some of the gritty areas of Bremerton and took some photos. It’s hot today (in the 90s), so I spent most of the day in the air-conditioned studio making these two watercolors. I used the small squirrel mop brush so I wouldn’t get distracted with too much detail.
The Firestone place on Wheaton WayRob’s Quick Stop in Bremerton
Our family gathered at a vacation cabin near Winter Park, Colorado, for our first family reunion. Because of COVID concerns, our numbers were reduced from 17 to 10, but those of us who came really enjoyed being together. We stayed at a vacation rental cabin that was equipped to sleep twenty, so we had plenty of room. I made a sketch of the cabin in the guest book so that future guests can enjoy it.
I’ve been busy finishing the inside of Katy’s writing shed, but today I joined four other painters from Poulsbo Artist League for plein air painting at Roadhouse Nursery near Silverdale.
Roadhouse Nursery
The nursery is beautifully landscaped with two or three acres of lawn, tall trees, ponds, raised gardens, and sheds. I focused on these carts that are waiting for a customer to haul off potted plants or potting soil. I found a patch of shade to paint in, but it was a warm, dry day. So I wet the back of my paper to slow down the drying time of my washes. It seemed to help.
As a retirement gift, I was given three nights lodging at Snowater Resort condominiums by a parishioner. Snowater is located in the North Cascade mountains of Washington, not far from the Canadian border. It was great to have a comfortable condo to return after each day of painting. Thank you, Penny!
I checked into Snowater on Friday night and spent all day Saturday and Sunday painting near Picture Lake in the high country. Aptly named, this lake mirrors Mt. Shuksan which looms above it. It’s a must for every outdoor photographer and painter (thus the name).
Mt. Shuksan from Picture Lake
Saturday morning was clear and sunny, and I set up my easel right away at one of the viewing platforms. It was a good thing I did, because the clouds came in later and obscured the view. A few people shared the platform with me, but they were very respectful and didn’t get in my way.
Afterward, I drove to the Heather Meadows Visitor Center and parked where the road was blocked because of snow removal. I hiked up the road to Artist Point at the very end of the road. It’s still melting out, but crowds of people were enjoying the walk up the road. I brought my painting gear with me hoping to paint Mt. Baker, but it was completely hidden in the clouds. The hike wore me out. It’s about two miles and a thousand feet elevation gain.
Mt. Shuksan on SaturdayMt. Shuksan on Sunday
After a break, I drove down a ways and painted Mt. Shuksan again where a ridge partially hides the mountain. I enjoyed painting the trees on the ridge, using a free brush with an almost abstract pattern. I also painted this scene on Sunday. Here are the two paintings side by side.
Mt. Shuksan in the clouds
On Sunday I again drove to Picture Lake and painted the mountain, although this time there were clouds swirling around the top of the mountain.
Mt. Shuksan from lower down
For my last painting of Mt. Shuksan I drove partway down the mountain and stopped at a pullout. The mountain loomed even higher from this vantage point. I painted a little bolder this time, making the mountain a little stronger and the trees darker. I like the way this turned out.
After this I was pretty tired. I tried to paint the Nooksack River on my way back to the condo, but I was too tired and I couldn’t get it to work out. But I had a wonderful two days of painting in an amazing setting.
