Catch a Wave in watercolor?...it isn't easy!

 Water is the most mesmerizing subject to capture! It is emotional, as it can be ominous and brooding as a storm approaches, or, peaceful and quiet on a sunny day at the beach. And watercolor is the perfect medium , in my opinion, to attempt to paint it. It is reflective, often moving in several directions, has foam and tiny particles in it and changes color with every ripple. So for my March class I decided to start with a giant ocean wave as it reached its peak. I suggested using transparent watercolors so that the colors could be seen as glazes were added and I painted on a 15"x22" piece of paper to honor it's size. So....how do we recreate a massive force of nature with all of its elements on a flat piece of paper? Here's how we attempted it:

1. Using a reference photo which was copied in color and also black and white ( easy value study), I sketched a transferrable image. Some did their own but I usually provide the sketch.

                                                   This is our photo reference (obtained online):

We identified the vocabulary for parts of a wave: crest ( the top) , trough ( the bottom), wave height and wavelength, white caps ( water droplets catch light from the sun), foam or spume ( created by the agitation of sea water, algae and other organic material

                                          

                                                                        My sketch:

2. Masking was used in all the white areas of the wave to preserve the white of the paper.

This was one of 4 that I painted using a limited palette of mainly Hansa Yellow, Turquoise and Permanent Rose ( a little Violet and Prussian Blue as well). The green created by the yellow and turquoise is gorgeous. All of ours were uniquely different.

Our class was small with just 6 painters but we had Ron from Colorado and Claudia from Pennsylvania join up with the 4 Austin Texans ( Rene, Beth, Joan and me) for a welcome interchange of ideas and feedback. We are all at different levels of our experience and speed which works fine on zoom as we have plenty of time for individual instruction in between group sessions.  My goal was to use 3 Wednesday sessions to cover a giant wave, a quiet body of water, a lacy incoming tide and a water droplet. We got all of the information covered and had a good time, too. I am big on information!

3. We started with the sky, painting upside down with a large brush and removing paint with a tissue to create cloud formations while it was still wet.

4. The wave was next>  I always start with yellow and try to repeat each color as I add it. I get lost in applying the paint and , for me, it is a luxurious meditative experience. Several glazes were applied to deepen and magnify the shapes.

5. Many went on to a beach scene while others remained focused on just this subject. Class time was filled with critiques, demos and evaluations of the various paintings.

Looking at choices for color placement and value prompted the shadow instruction because one still has to determine several things.

Where is the light source? What is in shadow? How many values are shown here? Below is a good illustration on the basics of shadow which is the key to making a 3 dimensional subject appear believable on a piece of paper. These waves are shadowing each other....

 

A homework assignment was to use mask in a calligraphic gesture of varied shapes to try to grab the movement and reflection on the surface.

We all tried a little yoga for painters to breathe deeply loosen fingers and necks. I encourage this for all who sit or stand for long periods or work with their hands.

I am very pleased with the results from the class, all a little different, and here are a few of them:

                                                                               Rene W ( note the distant birds)

Ron W  used a white pen and some opaque titanium white to create amazing foam

Beth F used dramatic color to show the power 

( and this was done while she did another water study online)

And Claudia W went on to the second scene of a beach view with sand and rocks

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More to follow...in June we will attempt to paint this fountain that also adds architecture and some tourists for lots of texture and activity. It will be held on 3 Watercolor Wednesdays with detailed instructions.                                   

                             Who knows....maybe we can even start traveling again! 

Be sure to contact me for information regarding online classes.

Happy painting!

Carol Sue