Winter Work Shop and my new store...

- February 04, 2020

Galleries at Pecan Creek in Marble Falls was once again my choice for a one day work shop. Debbie Heatley is a great organizer and I love joining forces with her at her studio. We had some returnees and also 5 brand new artists who jumped in to try a new method. I provided the sketch on 140 # watercolor paper for each artist.
Here is our completed image in color. A black and white copy is a time saving value study which is always recommended. The instruction sheet also reminds us of our order in this process and the colors and tools we used.

"Deer Me, It's Winter!"

Creating a watercolor tapestry

This is an ambitious project to try to complete in one day. I do NOT want you to rush or feel hurried by my instructions. You will be able to complete your painting later after today’s instructions. So relax and enjoy…

Welcome to a new level of watercolor that employs an under painting, cool winter colors, a richly detailed background and some use of negative space….oh, let’s add calligraphy, too! All of our final products will be different.

I used cadmium or lemon yellow as they seem to have more green in them as compared to warmer yellows that seem to have more red. My red was Quniacridone magenta which is pinker and I used F

1. Using your provided sketch of “Deer Me… It’s Winter”, begin by masking out areas you want to preserve. This is often your whites ( but not limited to that) and I will give you the choice of splattering your snow with masking fluid using a toothbrush now or using Titanium white afterward to splatter it. Suggestion: mask the deer (our warm focal point). Remember that any living thing always steals the show in a painting.

2. Under painting:

Let’s start with the sky and work down being mindful of the local colors you want to promote. Only spray the areas that you are currently working on. Have a straw handy and a Kleenex for mopping. Be creative…remember it all dries lighter and transparent colors form a richer glaze this way. Dry completely. We will use dryers although I prefer air drying when you have the time. Colors used: Cobalt blue, Hansa yellow, quinacridone magenta.

3. Sky, Evergreen and Bridge: I used a pointed round brush to apply several dark greens ( Sap, permanent and evergreen) to the tree sections. This tree is a second focal point as is the bridge and they both define the background so are quite important. I used burnt sienna and my cool yellow to create the bridge. It’s ok to use a “dark” ( sepia)

4. Waterfall and frozen pond: This area alone can take all day so just get the rhythm going and repeat values to be continued later. Lots of blues ( French Ultramarine and Prussian) and purple define the negative space here. I also pull the pinkish magenta in whenever possible. Really use your balack and white value study here as a road map.

5. Deer/ Elk: This guy is the focal point in the painting so take your time, don't feel like you have to color him all over; just suggest his muscle shapes as you go and define his neck with shadow. Hansa yellow, quinacridone gold and burnt sepia all in a wet application.

6. I suggest leaving this alone for 48 hours after class. You need some space! When you have time later, begin evaluating where you need darks and how to bring everything into focus.

**** If you do nor have enough snow when you reach this stage, cover the deer and splatter white using a toothbrush. This can be titanium which is a gouache or it can be a white acrylic. Let is all dry completely.

Congratulations!!!