Lesson 18 Sketching with Pen and Watercolor

For this exercise we went outside and spent 45 minutes sketching with a Sharpee pen - drawing around shapes working from a focal point outward. Later, inside, we added watercolor washes. This procedure produced charming line and wash drawings.

Ellen used just a few 'out of register' washes for a loose feel.

Helena used washes to bring out the white chairs and fountain.

Mary left a pathway of white skips running through the drawing.

Camilla filled in shapes carefully to form charming patterns.

Lesson 17 - Painting in Carl Larsson Style

Carl Larsson was a Swedish illustrator known for depicting family life in the late 19th, early 20th century. He was a master draftsman and used line and light washes to create appealing paintings. Here is one in his style I did in class of grandbaby Ezra.

Cupertino Artist of the Year

Here I am receiving the award for the Cupertino Artist of the Year.

Pleasanton Wine Stroll

I'll be demonstrating painting on canvas at the Alexander's Gallery, 608 Main Street, Pleasanton, as part of the Pleasanton Summer Wine Stroll on Thursday, July 17 from 6-8pm.

Lesson 16 - Lifting out fish shapes

This lesson is adapted from a Cheng-Khee Chee workshop exercise. The goal is to pour paint onto a saturated sheet of paper and lift out fish shapes with a clean, damp brush or sponge. The first step involves playing with the poured paint and watching for interesting areas to develop. When the paper loses it's sheen it's possible to lift out the paint back to white, or almost white paper. And then, when everything is completly dry add color and detail to the fish shapes.
Here are some examples.
Jane created a mottled green wash and lifted out a koi shape.

Marcia was able to pour an intense orange.



Teresa used the spots of blue/violet to balance the fish shapes.


Rita created some deep browns with a school of small fish.

More Studies

Here are a couple more small studies.

Small Studies

I've been experimenting with small bird studies on canvas. Here are a few - all 8" x 8".