But not that kind of Candy. One of my online artist acquaintances and hopefully soon to become friend, asked to see a watercolor in progress I have going on, using watercolor pencils as my medium.
But first I must explain my chagrin and embarassment (is that redundant?) to tell you that sometimes...if I want a good piece...I use a projected image of one of my own photographs to lightly trace the subject in. I feel like a huge cheater. I'm usually ok at laying in color, though I see other people's work and wish I had that fluidity instead of the rigid control I seem to use in painting...But still...I wish my drawing skills were better. My last piece that I did freehand I thought was decent...Then I saw the output of others and was shamed (my rower on Lake Michigan)...I need to practice practice practice and start sketching. I always lacked the patience for that, but it is time, methinks, if I want to grow in my artistic endeavors.
Anyway, for your interest, Candy:
I like using watercolor pencils as they give me that control that I feel I need. I've even been considering do more pieces in color pencil for that reason. I don't know. I love watercolors but maybe I don't have the talent. But I love them. (Repeat vicious cycle.) Back to the watercolor pencils...
You can lay in color and then apply water (which I tend to do), or you can apply water and lightly pencil in afterwards for a bit more looseness. Of course, if you glob on water after laying in the pencils first, you can probably also obtain that loose feel.
My fear with this piece is that is pretty detailed and I hope I can get the look I am longing for with it once I add the water. It is a bit daunting because I'll have to be careful and do it brick by brick. This would have been a nice piece to simply do in colored pencil after all. I learn everything the hard way. Of course, being short on patience, being a perfectionist, this piece will take me way longer than it should.
I've sketeched in my background for the Virtual Paint Along of one of my photos from my visit to Spain in 2005. I am once again cheating and sketching in outlines by projecting the image I want to use. I don't have the patience to do it myself and I know I'd ruin the ultimate look of the piece. Now, to get over myself and slap in the colors! (I don't get why my sudden fear of my favorite medium. Embarassment, I suppose, and of course, not wanting to have to start over. Watercolor paper isn't cheap!)
4 comments:
So far, terrific! I'm amazed at the detail. As for projecting the image, a lot of artists do that. It's not cheating. Don't worry about "not having the talent". You have talent. Draw and paint and don't worry about anything. Thank you for posting this. I can't wait to see it when it's finished. Also, thank you for explaining how the watercolor pencils work.
I forgot to tell you - I never heard of chocolate flavored cotton candy until now. I'll have to tell my sister about it. She's a cotton candy fan.
Chocolate flavored cotton candy, wow. Your painting is going to be great, you have a lot more patience than I do. I don't think I could put in all those details.
Tracing your own photo is the same basic thing the masters did with the camera obscura so you're in very good company when you choose to trace. Though I love to draw, and can draw very well, often tracing, then correcting and adjusting, is more reasonable. Someone told me that they 'got over' the idea of tracing being cheating long ago. Good advice. God made copiers for a reason:-)
Good art can be made in many ways, and the less restrictions and 'should's there are, the more creativity there is. In my opinion, the reason to learn to draw is to learn to be more observant -- which is the basis for seeing/making art.
Have fun painting.
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