DETAIL (from the original painting): Fresh Choice View
The detail image above is another watercolor created from a Post-It Note sketch. The basis for this painting was created while looking from the outer lobby window, at the Fresh Choice restaurant on Howe Avenue, in Sacramento, CA. Below is the actual sketch/value plan for this particular piece. You can see the finished painting, Fresh Choice View, by clicking on the following link … http://www.allthingswatercolor.com>
ORIGINAL 3-INCH SKETCH … See the complete painting here!
The sketch was accomplished in less than five minutes, while I was waiting for a business meeting to begin. It’s amazing how just a little information is all one needs to create an interesting watercolor painting. No camera needed, only a small 3″ x 3″ pad of yellow paper. You can see the finished painting, Fresh Choice View, by clicking on the following link … http://www.allthingswatercolor.com>
#1 by Russell on May 16th, 2006
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Hi Woody,
Another great painting. There are several things I especially like about this one.
1) Though I’ve been drawing and painting for 40 years plus, it never ceases to amaze me how a small sketch can show so much. I know it baffels my own students. What is interesting here is how the small sketch seems much more linear than the final painting, almost too straight on some of the lines of the building. This is what is facinating. The sketch, though loose, shows good structure, very organized. Then this sketch is re-interpreted in the painting. The sketch is more geometric, the painting has a more organic feel.
2) The painting itself has a loose, almost an on-the-spot quality to it. Looking at the original sketch, its wonderful to see the carefree strokes (though there is a great deal of experience behind those strokes). No substitute for years of practice.
3) Correct me if I’m wrong, but this one started as a wet-in-wet, with very neutral tones of the major colors, and no pre-drawing of actual shapes. This stage was dried and then the major shapes pulled out of the background with very little drawing (probably none) done to place the final elements. The original color spots were merely placed in the general location, then the shapes were defined in stage two. Good example of allowing the medium to “do it’s thing”, while keeping control of the overall results.
4) The added touches of nearly pure colors (phthalo blue and alizarin?) really give zip to the more muted tones. Nice balance of red vs. green here. It is interesting to note that all the basic 6 colors are actually in this painting, but some are so subdued as to be unnoticed until you really give it a good inspection.
5) Finally, a great example of “mama, papa, baby”, with the shapes (and not just the buildings either).
Wonderful painting Woody.
Best,
Russell