Thursday, December 28, 2017

Smoky - watercolor

watercolor, 2017
available, 9"x12"

      Just a quick little sketch with some ivory black. I never use ivory black. I've always preferred neutral tint or burnt umber or sienna mixed with ultramarine blue for more organic blacks and greys, and Payne's Gray for deep, absolute blacks. But, this reference photo was screaming for a grayscale treatment and what better way to do grayscale than with a pigment with "no color"?
      And, for general FYI, there are many more ways of mixing greys and darks/blacks including three primaries or two complimentary colors. UM blue and burnt umber/sienna are essentially complimentary colors for the purposes of mixing grey. Using two complimentary colors seems easier to me than three primaries. I try to limit all my palette mixes to two colors as much as possible anyway. And, a two-color grey is easy to warm or cool as necessary. Sometimes I even get the added bonus of a little pigment separation on the paper during drying. I think the look of UM blue and earth tones separating is one of the reasons I picked up watercolors in the first place.
      So, what's ivory black good for? Mixed with a little cool yellow, you can get some nice greens.

20 comments:

  1. Wow, I love this! Am taking a color theory in the new year to learn help me figure out what you have already mastered. Happy PPF and New Year

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    1. Thanks, Susan! I learned my color theory from reading everything I could get my hands on and trial and error and error and error.

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  2. I never would have thought to do a B&W watercolor. This is just wonderful!

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    1. Thanks! In one of his earlier books, Charles Reid suggested using just Payne's Gray or ivory black to learn value control, brush control, lost and found edges, just about everything that isn't dependent on color.

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  3. Always look forward to seeing what you come up with, this is gorgeous!

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  4. Beautifully rendered. Best wishes for 2018!

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  5. This is really beautiful. Happy 2018 to you and yours.

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  6. I think this is beautiful! Interesting thoughts on the color black as well...

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  7. Still trying to master watercolor, I am in awe of your painting. I too would never have thought to do b&w with watercolor. Many Blessings into the New Year, Janet

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  8. Beautifully smoky! You really captured the light like a pro. That hand and sleeve area is amazing. Well really, all of it. :)

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  9. This is really incredible. I love watercolors and have never really thought of doing anything completely B&W shades in watercolor. Beautiful work!! Happy PPF!

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  10. What a fabulous painting Anthony. It really works...you must be thrilled and thanks for passing on your thoughts about the painting process.
    Happy New Year to you too :D

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