Notes from painting a scene from Ohio.

I been obsessed with the idea of finishing a painting within 1-2 hours.
Would be ideal to secure quality and quantity. If one cannot survive with these attributes? It makes for an ideal & economic reason to quit and move on. 

Multiple attempts on a beautiful photo I retained from Columbus, Ohio. This scene is just right across the "33 Dormitory" of CCAD. I used to stay there. :)

Painting is 1/4 of full sheet and I completed under 2 hours.

1) Articulation needed to be simplified. Key deal with watercolor is that shapes must be broken down into simple gesture/  suggestions. Watercolor is always vulnerable to evaporation and its not ideal to sustain details if you need speed.

Drawing to be simplified

2) I think the most played down process in painting is the under painting. Even though you cannot plan for everything, this layer determines what you can do and achieve from here on. The same goes for any other kind of paintings. This layer is the "secret" and its often hidden. Similar to people , isn't it ?

relationship can only suggested when its still alive , when the layer is still wet.

 3) Assessment of layers through the reflective quality of water. When the layer is alive, the surface will glitter. When this glitter is gone ? It meant that you have let it go .

never attempt to charge a layer when the glitter is gone, unless you want cauliflower in your painting.

4) Charging watercolor. Wet on Dry technique. Instead of a sequential step of waiting for layers to dry. I worked with the concentration of pigment (within a layer) to suggest both values and temperature. This dramatically speeds up the painting process.  Note that you will need fresh pigment for such a technique. You will also need to connect as many shapes as possible.

Fresh from the tube colors are fresher, brighter and allow for thicker coverage

5) Utilizing negative shapes and dry brush strokes to generate interest. This reduces the reliance on details to complete a painting.

Dry brush strokes and suggestions to create interest for a painting.

6) People love drama and a painting is way more "interesting" when it is dramatic. Shadows play a crucial role to drama. I applied clear water on a dried layer before charging it with colors for a softer shadow. I decided earlier on to assign my sharpest edge to the center pole. I also retained some high lights on the shapes of cars to direct the eyes there. I spilled some paint to break things up a little . Cliche,  I know. Some love it. I actually don't.

completed painting