Barn watercolor study

A simple watercolor wash painted quickly and directly allows for experimenting with compositional changes while adding a dimension of color and temperature.  This was done on  9x12  gray-toned pastel paper.  I took the liberty of adding a tree trunk on the left which serves to push the barn back, join the shadow shapes, and provide more of a frame and/or environment in which the barn now "sits".  The colors are mostly cool temperature which provide a colder emotional or atmospheric dimension.  Perhaps I will do another one using warmer colors before doing that "masterpiece".

Barn value study

Here is a value study on an 8x10.5 piece of white drawing paper rendered with 3 pens - ie 2 shades of gray plus black, plus the white of the paper.  Limiting the number of values encourages one to simplify, adjust design, and avoid getting too detailed in your preliminary sketches which serve to help work out your final composition.   I will probably do another value study using a watercolor wash to further workout my value concept/design, thinking about temperature and color, as well.  I like to do these studies and then return to them months later in order to do a painting that doesn't necessarily get caught up with local color. 

Dancing Lake Shore IV

Original watercolor landscape by Janis Goldblatt on 4x6  Fabriano Artistico Traditional White 140 lb CP

To purchase, contact Janis at mailto:Janis@JanisGoldblatt.com

Please visit my website at http://janisgoldblatt.com/

Different papers same subject

Here yet, is another way to "test" different papers.  I taped down different kinds of watercolor paper and painted basically the same scene in a similar fashion to get a feel for how the pigment takes to the paper.  The top row was applied wet-on-dry whereas the bottom row, wet-in-wet. The types of paper are labeled.  You can keep then keep your "tests" as a handy reference and reminder of the qualities of each support.  And/or they can be cut and given as quaint little ATC's!  Have fun experimenting.

Please visit my website at http://janisgoldblatt.com/

Speaking of different papers - or supports, here is an interesting and informative exercise that I first saw in the book "Painting in Watercolour" by Jenny Rodwell.  

Line up several kinds of papers as shown above, and paint a scene across all of them.  As you do so, you will learn about how each takes the application of pigment and the resulting effect.  Try different approaches such as wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, washes, caligraphic strokes, etc.

Dancing Lakeshore with Tree

Here is yet another of the series painted on Yupo, a synthetic support that has no absorbant qualities.  Rather, the wet paint "sits" on the surface until the water evaporates, leaving the pigment.  The surface is then treated with an acrylic archival finish with UVLS for protection.

Original watercolor landscape by Colorado artist, Janis Goldblatt on Yupo measuring 9.5x9.5".

To purchase, contact Janis at  Janis@JanisGoldblatt.com

Please visit my website at http://janisgoldblatt.com/