This is another one of my class exercises: to do twelve tiny watercolor paintings of the same view of a flower using only one color, to practice shading. The idea is to practice giving a sense of the three-dimensional shape of the flower using variations in the amount of pigment in the wash. I learned several new techniques for moving small amounts of pigment over wet areas with greater control.
First we sketched the flowers in class (in this case a tulip) and traced it on tracing paper, to transfer it onto the watercolor paper. We did a value study on the tracing paper sketch to decide which areas should be dark, which parts light, and where to put the mid-tones to create the illusion of three dimensions. Using this sketch as a guide, we worked one tiny painting, then went on to the next, and so forth.
Repetition being the key to mastery, this was a very good exercise. The results are pleasing, and the red-pink tones most suitable for a Valentine's Day emblem.
2 comments:
lovely, and instructive. did you use the same drawing as the basis for each of these? and, is this scanned or photographed. I am amazed at how unique each one is.
may I use this as an example of valuye studies for my class?
--patrise
Thanks. Yes, I traced the same drawing 12 times. I hadn't intended to have so much variation from frame to frame (the results should be fairly uniform to show control). But it was so much fun to try slightly different versions of the same thing, though. You may use my work in your class, I am honored.
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