International Artist – June-July 2019

Watercolor Demonstration 95

drawing before transferring to my
watercolor paper. I use a gridding app on
my tablet to grid my photo for drawing.
I also display my image on my tablet
while painting, and can zoom in and see
the little details.
After I have settled on an image
and adjusted it, I create a very detailed
drawing. My drawings include marks
for the highlights, shadows and color
changes. If an edge will be soft on my
painting, I use a squiggly or dashed line
to note that on my drawing. I then go
back over the drawing with a black ink

pen, so it is dark enough to see through

my watercolor paper. I use my light

table to transfer it. By the time I have

transferred my image to my watercolor

paper, I have drawn it three times.  is

process really helps me become familiar

with the image, and sometimes I see

something that needs adjustment.

I paint on Arches 140-lb cold press

watercolor paper for most of my

Fanfare, transparent watercolor,

18 x 28" (46 x 71 cm)

This watercolor is of my son warming up his

baritone with his high school marching band.

When I took this photo, I was attracted to the color

and images refl ected into the horns. I also liked the

repetition of the hands and bells. If you look close,

you can see the band members’ shadows refl ected

upside down in the bells of the horns.

Bamboo and Lilies, transparent watercolor, 11 x 15" (28 x 38 cm)
These lilies were at Denver Botanic Gardens, and there was also an artist’s bamboo sculpture in the water, which created a very interesting backdrop and
graphic refl ections. I was intrigued by the contrast of the busy, abstract water with the calm and organic feel of the water lilies.