Thursday, July 19, 2012

Stiil Under Water Power!

As we had agreed during the class last Tuesday... I would teach using water colour on the next occasion so that all of us would be on the same page in terms of technique and conditions to work under. I mentioned that my own preference was to marry water colour with pen and ink for my drawing part of the exercise.

At luck would have it... the day turned out to be the hottest and most humid thus far this hot summer. Thank heavens for the steady breeze near the water at least... and the shade of the tree elders who line the banks of the River on Wendy and Art Merkley's Marine business property. We had the choice of painting either inside the numerous boats slips completely covered and sheltered from the fierce sun ... complete with picturesque portals... or... under the shade of the numerous trees lining the shore behind the slips. All chose the latter and focussed on an interesting subject which combined a man made object... Eugene Johnston's  veteran river work boat in concert with a backdrop of island landscape.

I demonstrated how to launch into the selected subject... beginning with a light  and sketchy rendering in pencil... with the objective in mind to "explore' the form and structural composition and design... rather than trying to draw with an eye to making a finished line drawing. In short... one could refer to the outcome as purely a gestural drawing at that stage. Then one could advance the quality of the drawing with an eye to a more finished line rendering.

Some folks only wished to use pencil or ink a;lone for the day's class... which was okay by me. I could address unique problems and differences as they arose... based upon individual need and medium. When all were reasonably along or finished this task... I had the group encircle me to watch how I applied the water colour... in washes... moving from lightest forms or planes to darkest... using flat brushes of about 3/4 inch or less/// then using about a # 3 round to add in additional stronger colour into the washes when desired.

 "The Rockport Group of 4"... under the oaks... and hard at it!

 Don and Wilf... heavy into it!

 Mary... an "Eagle"... soaring... pencil and sketchbook in hand!

 Robin... an "Island Girl"  (Hill to be exact).... dippin' n dabbin' her way joyously thru' summer!

 Eugene Johnston's Ageless Rockport Work Boat... on shore leave  watercolour on paper


The Uncle Sam River Boat ... out of A-Bay, NY... cruising past

Once that I was happy with the colour...  flatly placed, I allowed about ten minutes for drying then added some ink and colour details here and there to punch up the overall finished look of the sketch. I demonstrated how to play with the surface of the water... grabbing interesting shapes and passages rather than trying to duplicate the constantly changing surface. Simplify and caricature the water patterns... while varying the green... blue and multi-coloured dashes and glimmers of the small wavelets surrounding the craft. That keeps the overall e rendering fanciful and painterly looking.

All enjoyed the day... learned some new techniques... enriched newly-forged friendships... lazed away a warm summer day on the magnificent St Lawrence River...... while other unfortunates chugged along on their daily gerbil wheels. Does it get any better? I think not! Here are some photographic memories of our experience to share with you... wherever you are!

Wherever y'all are... Good Painting...and Happy Summer!

11 comments:

  1. Hi Bruce, I'm glad you enjoyed your watercolour foray. It certainly sounds like a perfect summer day, with the water gently lapping at the shore and the breeze rustling the leaves above your heads.

    I hope you have more days like that this summer,

    Keith

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  2. Hey Bruce...how did you get the whites in your paper? It looks like the paper has more of a beige-y look to it and the whites are so white! What a gorgeous watercolorist you are. A many of many many talents. And I'm still so intrigued by Mary. I wish I had half of her get up and go!

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  3. Good Morning Keith!... Thanks for dropping by!

    It was great weather for being outdoors... and with a great group of folks who share the same path! Doesn't get any better!

    It has finally cooled off here... and the deep humidity has disappeared for now... but we need rain VERY badly! The flowers and grass are all but decimated by the constant heat... and watering does little to reduce this effect upon them!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  4. Good Morning Sherry!... Thanks for dropping by and for your very encouraging and insightful comments regarding the paper and "whites"!

    My current sketchbook that I am using was not intended for water colouring... hence the beige tone that you noted outside of the picture area.

    When I first began using the book I very much liked the weight of the paper and the way that the colour dried rapidly when applied. However... the down side of it was that the crispness of the water colour pigment was lost because it soaked into the paper and appeared dull and lifeless.

    While in Scotland... the light was so beautiful and colour so rich that I experimented ways to "lift" or elevate the paper's whiteness by taping in the area that would contain the image with masking tape... and then apply a coat of acrylic titanium white to tone or prime the area white.

    I found that the water colour ... when applied to this white ground acted just as they would on pure white paper. This allowed me to continue to use the book for water colouring.

    I have three pages left to use in this water colour travel journal. Obviously... it will be easier to move to a sketchbook with whiter paper... and I shall!... But... I succeeded in overcoming the problem.

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  5. Sounds like another great day, Bruce!!

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  6. Hi there Marian!... It was Marian! As you well know and understand... any day spent en plein air... with kindred spirits... is another fine day!

    Hope that your own summer has been pleasurable and filled with good land... or seascape opportunities!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. That looks like a great, fun-filled day Bruce and I really like the pen & wash of the work boat. Nice work. ;-)

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  8. Hi there John!... Thanks for dropping by and for your gracious and appreciated compliments!

    It was a great day of plein air painting and fellowship for all who took part! Everyone is excited for the next class to occur! They're really keen and positive folks... all of them!

    Boats are great subjects... they sit still... HA HA!!... and there are plenty of them around here to choose from!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. Ah, Bruce....This looks like learning at its' best! A great group, a great time of year, and a great teacher with a ...Yep, you guessed it...a great approach to teaching!

    I loved your watercolor from the previous post!! The line work is wonderful!

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  10. Ooops...Sorry, Bruce. I didn't mean to discount the wonderful boat painting in this post! Great color variation and line work!

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  11. Hi there Dean!... Thanks for your upbeat and encouraging comments!

    Outdoor summer painting brings out the best in everyone! It is a time when one's creative spirits soar... unfettered by heavy clothing and unsavoury working conditions at times!

    We are really enjoying each other's company and the opportunity to work together outdoors!

    Thanks for dropping by !
    Good Summer Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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