Dolphin Watercolor Demo – 12 step painting

October 7, 2012 by eastwitching

OK – Brushes out! Follow along if you fancy paining this fresh dolphin.

I used Saunders Waterford 140lb Hot Pressed High White paper (available from Ken Bromley Art Supplies, UK) for lovely sparkle and Winsor & Newton tube watercolour paints.

Colours are French Ultramarine, Windsor Violet, Cerulean Blue, Antwerp Blue and Burnt Umber. Brush sizes 6 and 3 round.

1) I wet the entire inside of the dolphin drawing with clean water and let it soak in a bit.

2)Then while still moist I added loose washes of Cerulean, Ultramarine and antwerp to create the main tonal areas.

3)Adding stronger washes of the same colours as before I defined the body further.

4)In order to get the washes to run and suggest the sleek sides of the dolphin I held the painting vertical and let the paint do its stuff! – creating a lovely granulated effect free from brushstrokes!

5) To lift out highlights on the fin, tail and body I used a damp brush with water squeezed out so it would soak up pigment leaving a soft white mark suggesting sunstruck spots on the dolphin. This lift is a useful trick and looks quite natural.

6) Finally I added the eye and darkened a few accents here and there for punch but did not want it to be too slick and perfect! I always like to add some spatter for another dimension so there it is – my final flourish for a leaping dolphin.

Discover my dolphin prints here on my Etsy gallery

Budgie Watercolour Demo – Boisterous Ben

May 23, 2011 by eastwitching

All you need to paint this budgie is yellow, blue, dark brown and dark blue and a speck of white.

Painted on Fabriano Artistico 90lbs hot pressed paper from Italy with a size 0 and a size 3 round watercolour brush.

First paint the entire inside with a dilute wash of bluey yellowy green – this is up to you – just make it pale and varied for interest.

While still damp paint in darker greens and yellows and his feet. I painted his beak a mix of pale yellow green with a touch of brown and the cere above his beak is blue as he is a boy!

Then add deeper colour to shape the budgie.

Add the dark brown/blue mix to paint the black and white patterned parts of his back and side wings and feathers.

Also define his eye with that same colour and when dry add a tiny speck of white to make him alive.

…and there he is!

Royal Hugo

May 17, 2011 by eastwitching

I am painting a lovely dog called Hugo.

He will be king one day and to prove it he is wearing his crown in readiness.
With his Union Jack Bandana and solemn regal look he looks just perfect don’t you think? Part two to come tomorrow..

Enjoy – Alison

1 – Here is Hugo with his main tonal areas already painted (sorry – I was so enthusiastic I forgot to photograph the earlier stages!)

2 Add cadmium red for the velvet of the crown and the stripe on his Union Jack Bandana

4 Darken his nose and rest of face with more raw sienna mixed with burnt umber.

5 – Place darker washes of the same colour above his eyes to form this area.

6 – Add yellow to the crown

More tomorrow – Alison

Dolphin Watercolor Demo – 12 step painting!

May 6, 2011 by eastwitching

OK! Brushes out! Follow along if you fancy paining this fresh dolphin.

I used Saunders Waterford 140lb Hot Pressed High White paper (available from Ken Bromley Art Supplies, UK) for lovely sparkle and Winsor & Newton tube watercolour paints.

Colours are French Ultramarine, Windsor Violet, Cerulean Blue, Antwerp Blue and Burnt Umber. Brush sizes 6 and 3 round.

1) I wet the entire inside of the dolphin drawing with clean water and let it soak in a bit.

2)Then while still moist I added loose washes of Cerulean, Ultramarine and antwerp to create the main tonal areas.

3)Adding stronger washes of the same colours as before I defined the body further.

Watercolour Demo of a Doe for Ashley

April 13, 2011 by eastwitching

Here is a demo of how I painted the doe to the left in watercolour. This sweet-eyed and elegant doe is a commission for a lady called Ashley from Texas..

Once I had drawn the doe I wetted the entire inside area with clear water and let it soak in a bit before adding some pale lavender to the inner ears, just under the eyes and around the muzzle.