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!