Over the years I’ve improved my drawing skills, but I think my painting acumen has languished a bit. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll never be a master, but I do I we can. Bloom where planted, and all that. What do you think?
Every detail in the following images reflects a story detail as requested by the client for a special edition of her epic raw dark romantasy (romantic fantasy),Born of Fire:
Warning: these drawings contain invisible anti-Ai watermarks:
This drawing was used as a reference for an acrylic painting below.Chiaroscuro – a study of the arrangement of light and dark elements. From many years ago, when Ionee was young enough to think it would be cool to try on Grandpa’s glasses:A 105-year-old native woman I encountered at some time in the past:Chiaroscuro (light & shadow) of our beloved Bowzer, the boxer. We lost him in 1999:
Proof that a drawing can turn out okay even on crappy newsprint. Just gotta complete the watercolor in one pass or the water dissolves the paper!Forlorn Black Hills Log Barn (Rafter J-Bar Ranch)A colorized study of layered negative space with watercolor:Sketchbook color studies.
Tools of the Trade.Pussy GaloreFrom the Caribbean port of call we visited on a sailing voyage (St. Lucia in the Lesser Antilles).An early watercolor sketch from the sketchbook:‘Tis the season….A wet-on-wet experiment – exploding pussy willow seed pod.Bello Nock (world-famous clown from Barnum Baily shows) – foreshortening and smoke study with watercolor, pen, and ink.The Simple LifeAbstract villain (in the loose style of British abstract watercolor artist Jean Haines).
Another painting in the style of Jean Haines (using undiluted paints right out of the tube to create a vivid semi-abstract image).
Our granddaughter Ionee as a baby.The shiny pot.And the gilded cups.
The eyes have it. Renaissance man.Yes, I’ve occasionally ventured into PBN (paint by numbers) territory. This is an example. “Stiff”, isn’t it?Nun senseLow Tide.Coastal English FarmhouseNegative shapesPractice piece implemented entirely with palette knives (no brushes)Yep, the second and only other PBN I’ve done. It took months (48 colors). Did it. Then, back to natural creativity to inspire my work.Kay on “Electric Avenue”An early untitled effort before I learned about shadowing and shading. How flat is that!
