Cape Disappointment Commission

Commission

A watercolor of the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse is what my client wanted for their parents at Christmas. Here are some of the steps taken to create this painting. I received an example showing what they were thinking of but they wanted a warmer-looking day maybe with some sun.

Here is a sunnier shot of the same area that had a great array of sunny colors in it.

Taking a look through my own photographs to find a shot taken of that same bay while we were on vacation on the coast of Oregon. This just so happened to be a beautiful sunny day when my husband and I hiked up to the lighthouse a few years ago with a couple of friends.

I began with a sketch made from my own photograph of the area, liking the wave layout much better. It seemed sunnier and welcoming with its pattern of currents.

I quickly realized that I would not be able to preserve all the little areas of white without using some mastic (watercolor resist) to reserve the many areas and foam in the surf. I let the surface fully dry and then applied this mastic resist before I am able to proceed.

Jazz Step 1

Jazz step 1, making a jazz music collage.

Using my reference images I sketch in a collage, changing what I want and keeping the rest. Most of the changes made are because of the desire to show movement in the collage. The way I’m approaching this is changing the singer’s face in a more Hispanic flavor, with hair flowing up and twisting around. Another is to make the piano keyboard dance in a curve around the guitar. I use resist white areas like on the piano keys that I want to reserve. After lightly applying a wash for some of the shapes I am happy with the layout.
The next step for me is to wet all of the background very carefully so I can start to apply a loose bright background. I love to drop large bright drops of color in my backgrounds. As long as I keep the wetness to specifically where I want the color to spread, this technique works great.I love to drop large bright drops of color into my backgrounds. As long as I keep the wetness to specifically where I want the color to spread this “Wet on Wet” technique works fabulously.Slowly and carefully adding more of the background details brings out the outlines of the main figures. I am pleased with the promise of the layout. It is getting more interesting as it comes to life.
I tend to keep reference images right next to where I am working. You can see the first sketch of this idea original painting resting next to my current painting. I really enjoy the bright colors in this original sketch idea so it sits here to remind me.

Jazz Keeps Showing Up

This Jazz keeps showing up and I can’t get it out of my head. I want to enter a Spokane Watercolor Society Show with it. I decided to give it my best effort to render this scene then possibly it would not keep coming back.

I begin with finding great reference material to work from, showing characters and instruments well, placing them in PhotoShop and printing it out. The print sits right next to me as I paint this musical collage in watercolor, my ipod singing in the background with all my favorite tunes.

Jazz Again?

Is it Jazz Again? On a mural project, a familiar theme shows up again on the video rental store wall. The Florida music collage is a Deja Vü with characters playing sax, trumpet and piano and a singer up front.

This store was The Newport Video (in Newport Washington), and is no longer in business.

Recurring Inspirations

About recurring inspirations. Have you ever had an image that kept coming back for another round? I sure have. I had a vision of music being played on various instruments by a singer, sax player, trumpeter and hearing piano going all at once. A very brightly colored dream set in Florida tones. The first time I painted this inspiration was with a quick sketch in watercolor.

An 8×11 framed original.

Portrait Lil’ Ben Redo 03

Portrait Lil’ Ben Redo 03, is a gradual process of adding lights and adding dark detail after detail. Back and forth. Adding darker tones to his hair, his blushing cheeks, and that cheekbone in the mirror. I am beginning to feel like I have finally succeeded in creating an image that is “that person in front of a reflection”. Now to finish up the rest of the details.

There were adjustments needed in the sweater. Changed the colors in the sweater to fit in better because it was blasting my eyes with its stark whiteness. I want the focus on Ben’s face, not his sweater.

Portrait Lil’ Ben Redo 02

Portrait Lil’ Ben Redo 02, I love when we see the reserved white areas revealed.

Sometimes, it is surprising when I rediscover what I felt was important to save as the pristine white areas. But, I go with what seems right as I paint.

photograph and child portrait progress — a wonderful smile

More and more details are placed by using light layers of watercolor wash. I keep the photograph that inspired the portrait close so I can measure and make sure that the features are and stay correct. Just a tiny bit off will make the portrait totally wrong, and I am trying to get a really good likeness. Always striving to improve those artist skills.

smiling baby boy portrait — skin and features

This guy has amazing red cheeks whenever he laughs and smiles and he also has wonderful dimples.