Morning dock off Holmes Street, Mystic, Connecticut. Watercolor, 16"x12", 140lb Arches Rough.
Usually I stay FAR away from painting water. Maybe a puddle now and then or a lake off in the distance, but never something IN water. It is very daunting, but I couldn't help but be drawn to water scenes when in Mystic and I think this turned out decent enough.
A bit rough around the edges, but it served as an experiment for how I might achieve the cactus needles accurately and without masking fluid. I don't think masking would have given the correct tapered appearance.
The key was to use an old school adjustable drafting pen. I set a narrow pen's width, loaded it with color via a brush, and a flick of the wrist gave a good result.
#watercolor#watercolour#art#painting#MastoArt#landscape Today, I used a generic composition and tried to create clear, clean washes and some color harmony. Colors: Cobalt Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Gamboge. Brushes: 8, rigger. Enjoy!
A forgotten sketch I painted from within deep shade, viewing a very bright area in the background. I found it especially hard to judge the values and hue of the ground, esp. where it meets the trees, as your eyes rapidly adjust to the darkness the more you work on it.
A watercolor painting of a blue-gray home with teal shutters by the windows. Between the garage and the front gate, two red calla lily bushes grow from wood planters.
The lily is called 百合 in Chinese, which is pronounced as bǎi hé, which has the symbolic meaning of "happy union for one hundred years”. The lily is the flower of love in China, therefor Chinese lilies are great presents for women on their wedding day.
"Weight of the Dead"
Watercolor on Arches Cold Press
Illustration unpublished: originally commissioned by Cemetery Dance Publications for the book by Brian Hodge