Posted by Stephen Quirke on December 31, 2008 under Art, figure, landscape, painting, Uncategorized, watercolor, watercolour | 
The name of this post sounds like a dirge. But I think it is a milestone. I completed two paintings this afternoon which I think represent a step forward for me. There is still much work to be done but there is improvement. I have redone Ethan doing an ollie and Calvin on his skateboard.
Here is Ethan doing an ollie – without the tree in the background. It looks better I think. Actually I have painted a wash on his arms to warm them a little.
And here is Calvin skating off to surf with his friends.
Well that is all for 2009 I think. As the last of the great party animals I am completing this listening to Olga Kern play Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 which is heavenly music.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on December 29, 2008 under Art, figure, landscape, painting, Uncategorized, watercolor, watercolour |
This is a picture of my son Calvin going off to surf with his mates. I want to do it again.
I was half way down the palm tree when I realised my darks were too insipid. I like the sea though.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on December 27, 2008 under Art, figure, painting, Uncategorized, watercolor, watercolour |
This is my second picture of Ethan doing an “Arley”. I will have to look in one of his skateboard mags to see how to spell that. I wanted to do this last night but had to try for an early night as we got up really early this morning to climb table mountain. But as I climbed I was working out the painting strategy. And I read Herr Reid on the way home to fix his lessons in my mind. He suggests practicing the contour drawings on paper before starting the watercolour – which I did.
Here is the first wash.
I started with the middle value colours because I am not sure how to get these right once the darks are in. But I did the shoe in a single dark wash which I softened with water. Cool hey? Now I am going for an evening surf with my boys.
I have spent the evening doing the next wash and will stick here till tomorrow.
I am pleased with the shadow which has more life, and I like the way the shadow and the tree shadow repeat the motion of the arms. The tree is overworked though – this is a lot of dark and I want to learn how to apply this amount of colour with sparkle. This will be my bed-time reading. Oh yes – Ethan tells me that the move is called an ‘Ollie’ but as his brother Calvin explained, “We are South African – therefore Arlie” (I am not sure I understood but anyway).
Here is the final wash
- mmm I think the tree is quite strong – I want to do another with a l0wer value background.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on December 26, 2008 under Art, figure, painting, Uncategorized, watercolor, watercolour |
I am so keen to develop a looser approach to watercolours. Here is a picture of my son Ethan. I started with a contour drawing and then began with the darks. I also tried to go out of the body as soon as possible to the dark tree in the background. I did the road and the green grass last, after the shadow, which was a problem perhaps – but it feels great to just do it with out trying to be perfect – mmm very good.
I will try this again as soon as I can.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on December 22, 2008 under Art, landscape, painting, Uncategorized, watercolor, watercolour, waterfall |
Here is a painting of a waterfall near George.
I have had a couple of attempts and this morning I did a careful drawing of the facets in the rocks.
And here is the first wash. I am already wishing I had used 300 gm paper rather than 185 gm which conkles and feels like it will tear easily.
Here is the next wash. I started at the rock at the top of the fall and worked my way down and around. Of course working up the other side got me into trouble as water ran down the picture so I had to work upside down a bit. Like the Joker in Dark Night, when he says “Do I look like a man with a plan?”
Well some detail here. The water got bit out of hand and I should have taken a break. Now I am feeling tired and have lost my concentration a little. I am going to go and help Donovan dig holes for his kid’s Jungle-Jim. When I get back I will see if it can be redeemed.
OK now it is way past my bedtime and I have been working this past hour and a half on my picture. It is probably time to put it aside for a few days and then finish it and decide whether it is a keeper or not. Perhaps I am still working too big. The size is 56×38 cm. And the washes use a LOT of paint. I get the feeling that my pallette and the paper is fatigued. There really is a pool in the middle of the rock – with green water in it though perhaps I need to tone down the green a little.
Time for a snooze. I have such a lekker idea for a new painting and want to start now but – “more is nog ‘n dag” as they say in the local venacular.
24 December:
Last night I wrapped presents then found myself drawn to the picture. The lights and darks were not pronounced enough so I worked on them a bit. And this is what it looks like now:
I would like to say this is it but I think the rocks need more definition. How long did they take to assume their character? And now I want to find a quick and easy way to portray this? It is not right it seems.
Anyway – it is almost done AND I started on my new project – it is about butterflies and it is going to take a long time – watch this space. I have also progressed on a figure painting that is almost ready for publication here. Now it is time to cycle (to avoid the jam) to the mall for a final purchase.
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