The Old Grey Pony Is Finished, and BOY!!! Do I Need Practice with Pouring Paint!!!

Old Grey Pony
11 x 13 in./  28.5 x 34 cm.
Available at Daily Paintworks

I wanted to demonstrate poured watercolor to the class last Saturday. So I quickly found an image [of one of my favorite subjects] with strong values, got the drawing on watercolor paper, masked it, and took it to class. I think I started with the paint too concentrated, but went ahead anyway. I used hansa yellow [just because I had a lot, and never use it for anything else], alizarin crimson and indanthrone blue.

I made a mistake or two along the way, but it is a very enjoyable painting technique, and I will come back to it. I guess a better-prepared value study would be a good idea next time!!??? ... or ANY value study!! Must get into the habit of doing those!

Meanwhile, here in Lotusland [aka Vancouver] the rains have started. It is coming down so hard, you can hardly see across the street! Must be making up for the dry summer we had. So Bruno is out in his paddock wearing snorkeling gear and flippers, and I am inside with the rest of the menagerie, trying to decide what to paint next.

Thank you so much for dropping by!

Since It's Raining Cats and Dogs ...

12 x 18.5 cm.
I'm not sure if I want to let him/her stand alone, or have some sort of almost-not-there background.

Still in progress. This one is a little more painterly.

 I found a cute cartoon of "raining cats and dogs", but I just read the small print, and found I would be infringing on copywrite. So, imagine the rain ... pelting down ...

Kim, Trigger's owner, and I finally got together yesterday. She loved the painting, and the portrait is sold ... finally. :) 

I really darkened the background. As a result, Trig looked quite cold, so I warmed up his face and neck with some pinks and oranges. DONE!

Because You Asked ...

The latest on Trigger

Himself

Before I start getting ready for work [at my "real" job] I thought I'd quickly post Trigger's state right now. He still needs a bit of fussing - perhaps more thin glazes in the shadows, and his delicate roan spots.  Judy left  a message wondering where the update had disappeared, so here it is. I must say, the watercolor in real life looks much better than on the screen here. I quite like it, and hope the owner loves it!!!

As always, your comments are most welcome.

Two Out of Three for the Leaves, and a Fresh Start for Trigger

This one came out relatively well. I did a w/w wash, with no masking, of quin. gold and cobalt blue - they flow so beautifully together.

This leaf is all right, too.

I would have been better to have stopped here, but ...

... I wanted to go darker. Mistake.

Creeping along with thin washes of quin. red, quin. burnt orange and indanthrone blue.

I found a few drawing errors, and I wanted to show more of his chest, and the neck in proper proportion. I think he is coming along better than Trigger I.

As always, your comments are most welcome.