What is the word of the day? Progress(be it slow and arduous) Here's a close up of what I've been working on. I'm also showing you the ref of the hand I'm using. Thank you all my friend/models. Again, I'm a big photo ref/ref in general advocate. At least until you've gained a better understanding of anatomy, light, form color etc where you can start to manipulate it more successfully. Something I constantly try to improve on.
And I also have a new video of here with a close up and explanation of my process and technique. If something is not clear feel free to ask questions. And for a small fee I'll answer them;) I jest.
9 comments:
Love the demo! Seeing how thing the paint was made me appreciate how long each painting must (?) take, slowly building up the values. A couple questions...
1) How did you develop your watered-down-paint style? I hear people talk about how acrylics can be used like watercolors, but I don't think I've read anything by people who actually does it.
2) How do different grounds react to your method? You've said you use watercolor paper a lot, but your style is a constant in the pictures on your site, regardless of medium or ground.
I grew up playing with your Crayola or Prang watercolor set. I became comfortable with it. I practiced with it growing up and continued in art school. I heard of people thinning it down. But until I tried on water color paper I didn't really get the results I was looking for. I think anyone who works in acrylic waters them down at a cert point for details...could be wrong.
I would submit that style is not determined by medium it's more about your personal flare with drawing, your use of design elements, composition, value structure, color palette etc. I like things to look a certain way so regardless of medium I'll try to get the end results I want. Many mediums do have flexibility to be used in various manners as well.
I was VERY happy to see this new video Eric - the thing that always intrigued me is how you've managed to get those layerings SO EVEN, you know what i mean? It's all about getting rid of the excess of pigment, I guess, through the thinning... right?
I was tryig to figure out how could I get the evenness in the larger blocked areas, and of course, for the fine details... It's really all in the thinning! I was talking yesterday with Sam Weber about this, and you just put up this video exactly on this subject!
Keep in mind Eric (as I already asked for this stuff for you before),I'm not trying to get your style or anything, this is not about the visual languages (as you have yours and I have mine)... my interest in your watercolor tehcnique (and in Sam's) is just because I just feel that this is the best suitable way to develop my own projects. It suits my ideas better! Now I'll work hard on my stuff, hope I'll be able to get your feedback someday.
All the best man, you rock!
It's nice to see you explain your technique a little. I didn't realize your layers were THAT thin. Hahaha, I would never ever have that kind of patience. At least acrylics dry pretty fast.
I like the kind of ghostly after-image effect going on in the painting and am eager to see it finished!
You continue to share such great info with us. Thank you. I don't comment often but I love reading your blog.
Thanks Rafael,
My washes aren't always super smooth. Sometimes the granulation is too heavy for my taste. When this happens I can glaze over it with a semi opaque, lighter color to decrease the "speckles" or I can paint in around the speckles or other areas to smooth them out. And then again sometimes I like what happens naturally with the paint and it's perfect.
There's no need to waste time figuring out technical aspects from scratch if others before you have already done so. However, mastering the technique is different. If the only thing that separated my art from others is my technique that wouldn't be saying a whole lot. People are influenced by different things and do not exist in a vacuum void of external forces that shape our art and person. Our different experience help to form our style. This is why I try to look at as many things as possible and to be inspired by all there is to see. It expands our perspective and helps our art to evolve. A bit easier in the age of the internet but don't neglect your local museum either.
Hey again Eric!
Your answer blown my mind. I'm particularly happy that you put in better words what I was trying to say: artists doens't really have to waste time figuring out things that others already explored. You totally got my point, and I'm glad about it.
About your insights on the things that inspires/affects our creative mechanisms, and about the personal technique, I couldn't agree more. One thing is to learn how to handle a specific method - the other, is to interiorize and make it your own, and see how it will work through our very own personal/artistic baggage of influences. Now, let's see how my own creative parameters will deal with this technique! ;>)
All the best, and thanks again for your patience.
Wow great post, and your comments are very informative and influential. You always paint amazing hands. Great Job!!!!!!!
Hey Eric - enjoyed the demo! It's interesting that you use watered down acrylics... is there are reason you prefer this over watercolors? I work with watercolor and gouache, and I'm interested in why you choose thin washes of acrylic instead.
Thanks!
Hi Eric.
Thank you for the video. I'm always interested in an artist's process.
How do you prepare the graphite line art before applying the paint?
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