Sketchbook - Value Study and a Change in Tactics

I was given a gift of the Imperial Edition of Elder Scrolls Online.  That package included a rather intricate statue of the main bad guy, which I used for this study.  It was probably a bad choice, but I wanted to challenge myself.  The proportions are way off, but it was fun trying to preserve all those highlights while pushing the shadows.  However, I don't think my current training method is working out.

I haven't practiced my fundamentals in a very long time, and while those skills don't seem to disappear, they have certainly rusted.  That is probably where I need to focus for the next few weeks.  I've jumped head first into the watercolors, but I'm having a very hard time maintaining proportion and perspective.  This can be worked on with sight measurement and "seeing" exercises, but its not very interesting.  I will see if I can come up with a way of showing it without boring the hell out of you.  I still want to preserve the continuity of this blog, but skill improvement is my ultimate goal.  Tell me what you think in the comments below!  Until next time, stay strong and keep drawing!

Sketchbook - Shells

This sketch is actually one of my first watercolor attempts.  I just realized that I hadn't posted it yet.

I'm learning.  Looking at this you will see that almost every single brush stroke is visible.  I managed to luck out on the the orange shell, and made a couple accidental washes.  With the transparency of watercolor, you really have to lay down all of the color for a particular section at one time, or it will look like this.  It takes planning and patience.  Neither of which are my strong suit.  I'm getting there though, I have a bunch of wash control practices completed, and one value study.  I will be putting some of that up in the next few days.  Until next time!

Sketchbook - Sake Still Life

I'm still working in my sketchbook style right now. I don't want to spend much time attempting to refine a painting when I have so much to learn about the medium.  Take this for example.

No, this is not tinted or faded.  It's just that pale.  I started this painting really weak, with an almost tea colored wash, and tried to layer up to the darker values.  By the time I got to this point, there were so many damaged spots on the paper, and I was noticing the bad proportions and color choices so much that I just called it quits.  I did learn a bit about washes, and adding texture, but I'm still missing on the values big time.  I think the next few sketches will be monochrome, so I can focus on getting the paints darker or lighter without worrying about color.  I'll have more to show you soon.  Until then, stay strong!

Sketchbook - Self Portraits

I'm still playing with color mixing and controlling watercolors.  The one reference I always have is myself, so I set up a mirror at my drafting table.

The first one you've probably seen before.  It's actually the second one I've painted though.  I gave myself time limits on these.  No more than two hours on each sketch.  

This one I feel is the most honest portrait.  You can see the haunted eyes of a father of teenage girls in it.  Or maybe I just got the values wrong... I'm ok with it either way.

Sketchbook - My new medium...

OK, so now we get to the new stuff.  I wanted to get started in a medium that was portable, somewhat cheap, and could be used in as many environments as possible.  I settled on watercolor.  I already had an almost complete watercolor setup that I have never really used.  Granted the paints are pretty low quality, but they will do the trick until I can replace them with the good stuff.  

Cat Statue - Watercolor on paper

 I've really never worked with watercolor before.  So far I've found the medium to be very useful in the portability department.  They are quick to set up, clean up, and there is no need for potentially harmful chemicals.  However, in my opinion, watercolor is unforgiving.  If you make a mistake in oils or acrylics, you can paint over it.  With watercolors, you have a few moments to perhaps lift it out with a rag or paper towel while it's still wet, but that only works so often before the paper starts falling apart.

Skylanders - Watercolor on paper

These are just quick sketches.  I didn't spend any more than a couple of hours on each.  I'm trying to figure out the manipulation of very wet paints, and the color mixing which is very different with watercolors.  The pigments seem to be way lighter or darker once they dry causing my values to get knocked out of whack.  It is a lot of fun doing these sketches though.