Here with a teaser post of a work-in-progress. A watercolor painting of a local forest in mid-winter before the snows fell. Feels a lot like fall, but the bright low winter sun creates some very stark shadows
The painting starts as a line-drawing, transferred onto a hot-press watercolor block. If there were a singular subject, I would probably do an underpainting, but this landscape involves a multitude of plant characters and colorful shadows. I set in blocking my rough colors and protecting the brightest white. I try not to rely on gauche to put the lights back into a piece.
I’m starting at either end of the value spectrum and working my way towards the middle; laying down super dark areas quickly and leaving large light areas untouched. When the major elements are in place, I can start on the details and turning a form from right-to-left because I’m left-handed.
Come back next week for the finished painting!
