Emeryville market

Four artistic buddies and I gathered to sketch at the Emeryville Public Market last Sunday. For these, I tried something different. I applied the watercolor first, with no preliminary line drawing. I just painted a general shape or color where I wanted there to be a face, clothing or whatever. (The lady’s face was just an oval shape; the man’s face had to be more precise.) I let it dry completely, then added the black ink sketch on top. I think it helps to leave some white spots within watercolor and not try to fill everything in. The white flecks seem to convey a bit of spontaneous energy.

The vignette

This week, I tried a few quick watercolor sketches in the form known as a vignette. Definitions vary, but usually a vignette has these elements:

• a cruciform (cross) composition
• design doesn’t  extend into the corners of the picture plane
• image forms interesting areas of white space as it extends to the edge
• Generally, it extends to 3 or all 4 edges (but leaving corners untouched)

At right are a few rough sketches, just playing with the concept of image vs space, and below, few vignettes that I completed last night.

Painting potential

Twilight at Bodega Bay Head… the crew was cleaning the vessel after their excursion. I think this could turn into a painting… so many ideas, so little time! Stay tuned; this one may reappear in another version.

Rainy day tugboats

I sketched these tugboats quickly with light lines in pencil, then moved under a nearby awning and painted the scene in watercolor as it rained. These are docked at Ballena Bay in Alameda. I think that they are recreational boats designed to look like tugboats but which do not have the actual hauling capacity of a real tug. Anyway, I’ve always like the chunky shapes of these sturdy working vessels. A few raindrops splattered onto my sketch page  (visible near the dark mast) and I ended up with a big blossom line (upper left section) and I think these unintended effects are fond testaments to being outdoors on this blustery day.  (From my art archives, since I’ve been ill this week.)

Sunflowers at the market

Sketched awhile back from the plaza along the Embarcadero, with a view of the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building, San Francisco.

Historical relics in Benicia

Sketched in pencil onsite in Benicia, then finished with watercolor at home. This hulking vessel is typical of the time-worn working craft docked near Joy’s Boatyard. A fellow artist commented that putting more dark or varied tones in the sky might be an improvement. I agree, but just didn’t feel like going back into it. Ya gets what ya gets.

Watercolor artist Eric Wiegardt

My Letter to the Editor was published in the Dec. issue of Watercolor Artist: “To view Eric Wiegardt’s reference photos beside his creative interpretations was refreshing [“Beyond Picture-Perfect,” October]. I’m weary of watercolor society exhibitions packed with complex, precise renderings of enlarged photographs. Regardless of one’s style or subject matter, I yearn for more celebration of watercolor’s quirky character and unique transparency. As is possible with Wiegardt’s work, I love to see evidence of the artist’s hand — and heart.”

If you’d like to see Eric’s loose and lively watercolors, click HERE. I’ll be studying his fresh approach to jazz up my own work soon….