GAMBATTE PROGRESSION
This is the scene:
On a Friday morning, this view drew my attention along the south bank of the American River, at Sara Park, Sacramento, CA. I was intriqued by the "Y" shape suggestion between two branches. I created a value sketch on the spot. Some time after completing all three paintings, I returned to document what it was that had originally caught my eye.
This is what I sketched:
Seen above is the value plan sketched on location. The compositoin is simplified by using just three values, lights, mediums, and darks.
This is the first painting:
This is Gambatte 1, the first of three paintings based on the above value plan. This version was primarily painted outdoors about two hundred yards downstream from the original site along the river, nstead of using pencil, I drew my pattern directly onto the paper using black ink line as a startubg point.
This is the second version:
Gambatte 2, is the second of three paintings. Here, I blocked in my color first and followed with black ink line. This piece began on location and was finished sometime later in the studio
This is the third version:
A week or so after completing the first two paintngs. I attempted this piece as a class demonstration. After the first couple of watercolor layers I decided to vary the approach by turning the painting upside down hoping a new direction might be suggested.
This is what I adapted:
The next step was to sort through some old, newspaper clippings until I found a dark value pattern that I might use as a basis for complimenting the overall design of the watercolor. I then brushed in the final dark layer using a mixture of Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Thalo Green, Thalo Blue, and Ivory Black. A few final touch up strokes here and there, a signature, and the painting is completed.
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