mixed, 2018
available, 8"x10"
This is a 5"x7" ink and wash piece I did fairly quickly earlier in the summer. I was still getting used to some Isograph technical pens, but chose a watercolor paper that was a bit too rough. So, the ink lines are a little choppy. Still, I think it works.
watercolor, 2018
available, 11"x15"
Big Red is a small lighthouse on Lake Michigan in Holland, MI. Being from North Carolina, it's odd seeing a lighthouse surrounded by snow. But it seems to fit.
watercolor, 2018
available, 11"x15"
A classic Packard coupe in front of an old gas station. To emphasize the car as the focal point I added a wash of thin acrylic gesso over practically all of the background. Then I restated the lines with charcoal. In addition to making the realistically rendered car pop, this also reminds the viewer of the two-dimensional nature of the piece. While the focal point may look realistic, its environment is a barely-colored drawing.
That's the academic explanation. The truth of the matter is that I fully intended to paint the entire scene in watercolor relying on loose rendering to push the background "back." But, after nearly completing the painting I realized the deep shadow of the gas station portico completely overpowered the car. So, it had to go. There's more than one way to get a painting where you want it.
mixed, 2018
available, 8"x10"
This is a little 5"x7" portrait I did quickly and loosely on fairly horrible paper, Bee. It doesn't handle much scrubbing at all, or even many consecutive layers. But, as with many other questionable art products, if you're mindful of its shortcomings, anything is possible. I restated some of the lines with a sharp charcoal pencil and added some depth to the background to give it a bit of an abstract nature.
