Why ? Well, I can get a sharper pencil and waste less graphite when I do this.
More importantly, by shaving my pencil, I can carve a wider graphite surface. This allow me to draw without exhausting my point, maintaining and reserving the the sharpness only for the sharpest edge
Typically, I sharpen with a pen knife until it is quite sharp
I make use of a sanding block to get it closer to the point i need. You may store the graphite powder in a container when you do this. Saving precious graphite along the way.
There isn't a better tutorial than this one I found on youtube by Karl's Gnass. He is a top notch Artist with a series of excellent tutorial on drawings :) . Happy Drawing :)
Perhaps the most useful technique used by watercolor plein-air artists.
This technique allow you to complete a painting on-site without getting bugged down by details or with too many glazes. Theoretically, you complete in 3 layers. However, apart from time constraint, there aren't any rules to why you should limit yourself to just 3 layers.
Here's how you work the magic. By the way, I am demonstrating with just two colors. Why ? Because beginners too often have problem managing colors . If you can't even work with 2 ? Reduce it to one. There's no prize for the artists who uses most colors.
At the most fundamental level, one just need to ensure that that the correct sense of color temperature is in place. Excessive colors rarely enhance an image when the temperature shift is nothing but a chaos.
Important things to remember when painting:
Shapes + Composition, (If it doesn't look like a square ? It may be a rectangle )
Value structure / Good drawing / Chiaroscuro (extremely important for watercolor since it rely extensively on light versus dark dramatic structure )
Soft versus hard edges
Color temperature (warm versus cool) . There is no need to score accurate color. A painter merely depict a color's relationship to its surrounding. e.g does the color has more warm (Red or orange) or cool (Green or blue) in it ?
Maximum coverage is made with the thinnest layer, mid tone and shadow mass are all connected with milk layer and details are left in for for thickest coat of paint. (error - Tea layer was yellow orche :)
Demonstration of the Tea layer
Demonstration of the Milk layer
Demonstration of the Honey layer
Putting it all together: (two colors)
The technique sounds all easy but can be quite a challenge when you are on-site and overwhelmed by the gamut of colors and details that mother nature throws at you.
The truth is, no one can paint everything on the spot. A good painting isn't a good photo and how you capture the essence creates the impression that mattered the most. (Paint language) A few things to note:
Things will change.
You are painting an illusion and it doesn't have to include everything.
A quick thumbnail study is exceptionally useful for a complicated scene. I often make the mistake of painting without preparation, only to regret after I lay down the first wash.
Resolve your value structure before you paint. Changes in light cannot affect your vision if you have this road map. Its also a whole lot easier to focus on other aspects of painting if you have this.
Putting it together for a scene
For more of this technique. I recommend the tutorial put up by Marc Taro Holmes . His has a nice cheat sheet he put up for free at his website. https://citizensketcher.wordpress.com/paintings/
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.
Two weeks ago, I forced myself to wake up early and caught the daily sunrise at various seaside locations.
"There's a sunrise and sunset every day. You can choose to be there for it. You can put yourself in the way of beauty." ~Cheryl Strayed.
Here's how I completed a painting in watercolor : 1) I packed all my top gears and arrived at west coast park, set up within 15 minutes and used only fresh pigment. Sunrise meant that I get to study very distinctive shadow masses ( at least, most of the time). Essentially, I only have a 1-2 hours window for this. It usually gets too brutal hot after 9 and I didn't have an umbrella with me. I arrived at 7am.
Plein Air within 2 hours. ( West Coast) . Fast study forces me to reduce things and pay attention to the essentials
2) I realize halfway through my study that I can improve the composition. I stop painting right away. The painting was completed within 1 hour and 20 minutes.
A better composition prompted me to stop.
3) I took the morning study home and rework on a full sheet painting with the composition I like. I also took a few photos from the scene for reference.
Sketch pf the scene on full sheet painting
4) I locked in a "Tea" layer wash. (a very thin wash of watercolor) and used the opportunity to charge in colors that reflects the color temperature from my studies. This is usually the best layer for pigment to do its own thing. The best watercolor paintings are usually painted by "the paint" itself.
Allow watercolor to do its own thing while I cover as much terrain as possible
5) Since the washes are thin, they dry sequentially.. The sky section dried up faster than the sea section and I was able to paint on without delay. I built up the background with a "milk" layer ( A higher ratio of pigment to water layer) and paid great attention to the shift in color temperature, These temperature shifts were base off my morning study.
Building up the background with a Milk Layer.
6) I also sequenced various "Tea" layers for numerous components in the scene. These included the bunkers and various cranes that I felt would need a "richer" and more complex color structure".
Variation of layer's density to create a more complex color structure for the entire painting
7) Speeding up the coverage with "milk" layers while having a game plan with the sequence of layer's density and color temperature. I locked in shadow shapes, never forgetting the complexity of color temperature. Often, I grant watercolor the permission to do its own thing :)
Locking in shadow masses with Milk layer
8) I wanted to retain a greater sense of transparency in the shadow for the waters. I also began to lock in the thickest layer (Honey) now. This is coming to an end.
Locked in the transparency of the water with Milk layer while proceeding to the thickest layer ( Honey). Comparison of morning study against the bigger studio painting.
9) Finally, honey coat with details added. Total work hours: (7 am until 9 pm)
I am currently scheduled to start this journey on Aug 24 2015. If that fails, it will be Aug 2016.
I managed to get a hold of someone from Airstream and they contacted me to find out more about how they can offer help. I responded with a proposal and I am looking forward to hearing from them.
really stoked when someone from Air Stream actually read my email
Kindness Matters:
Hustling isn't fun but its great whenever a kind person read your emails and decide to forward it to the relevant contact.. So yes ... Even if Leica won't spot me a camera, I am absolutely delighted that they have looked into my proposal :)
Leica were really nice and forwarded my email to the person in charge
Meanwhile, I also decided to go ahead and plan out a trip without anyone's support.
After numerous emails with insurance companies, my friend, Jinji finally found one that would cover a foreigner (me). The game plan is for him to buy a used Van, (on my behalf) and have his insurance cover my usage when I am there. Another great friend, Scott Stewart who remodels vintage cars agred to help me remodel this used Van. My budget is a little short of USD$6000 for the vehicle and he says it was possible.
Here's what I will need on this Van:
Stealth capabilities so that I won't be harassed by the police. A Cargo van without windows would be ideal
Potty solution for number 1 & 2
Insulation from cold (thermal sleeping bags) and ventilation when its hot
A sleeping quarter.
Storage for half sized, full sheet watercolor paper. A2 or larger.
Storage for pigment, brushes and easels
Storage for dry food , water and clothing
Extensible shelter from the outside of the Van. (best to be reflecting white/neutral)
Simple kitchen (preferably outside of van)/ simple cooking set up (toaster, boiling water and clean water to clean stuff/utensils)
Simple set up for workstation and laptop
Possible surveillance system (CCTV)
Solar energy to charge and power computer/cell phone and all electrical appliants
Internet connection on the road
Some abilities to air dry laundry on the exterior of the Van.
First aid kit
Not sure if I need a propane heating system, If i do, I will need a carbon monoxide detector
I researched extensively on a bunch of people who lived in Vans and found this amazing stealth van configured by Dan's Travel. Everything in his van was meticulously thought off
My plan is to check into a hotel, once every few days. (Clean up and do laundry)
Hopefully I can limit myself to less than 15 hotel visits through out the 50 days. ( I am sure some of my friends will be able to help me out in the various states they are in)
Check out Dan's Van below. Its a total masterpiece !
Defiantly need power units. Will be great to draw power from polar panels
Not sure if this is totally necessary but its a great idea to know whats going on outside
Great extensible shelter outside of van. I can totally Plein Air in comfort with this.
His potty system under the cabin seems ideal.
First aid kit
He managed to set up ventilation fans on this guy, Solar panels on top too
Well, if that's not inspiring enough, Check out this Daniel Norris, a millionaire pitcher who lives in his Van. VW happens to my dream car. You heard that right, I don't even like sports car..
Yup, I am kind of a a hippy inside. Super talent with a ripped body and millions without giving two craps. #realbadass
