DOUG NELSON - Watercolors

Home
Landscapes
Still Lifes
Anatomy of a Painting
More
Horizontal Divider 2

Preliminary Process

Horizontal Divider 2

Reference Photos
Anatomy/refphotos_85res.jpg

Quick Sketch
Anatomy/CompSketch_85res.jpg

Reference Copies for Sketch
Anatomy/GridRef_85res.jpg

Final Inked Cartoon
Anatomy/Cartoon_85res.jpg

Masking Fluid Applied
Anatomy/Masking_85res.jpg

These are the three shots of several taken that day to use in the final painting.
 
   
 
 

This is the final composition - after several variations - for the painting.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

One method I use when working with reference photos is to make black and white copies and transfer them to my cartoon using the grid method.
 
 
 
 
 
 

After the cartoon was sketched I inked over it. It's then placed under the watercolor paper (Arches 140# hot press) and traced - very lightly with pencil - using a light box.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Once the paper has been stretched, mounted and then dries, masking fluid is applied to protect certain elements of the painting from being painted.

Now the real fun begins....

Green Hand Pointing Right