Look Mom, COLOR!

I decided to try a little something different at a recent drawing session. The model was a chatty little thing and quite fun to draw (read: interesting tattoos and hair color). I have been in possession of various types of colored media for almost as long as I have been drawing but never put much effort into it. That is what computers are for, right?



I started with a quick pencil sketch and then used colored pencils to get a feel for the colors I wanted to use. Then it was time to really get froggy.

I must admit, I was intimidated by a recent gift of watercolor paints. What would I do if I messed up? You can't erase watercolor, can you? But hey, when a pretty girl gives you a set of watercolors and says, 'paint me a pretty picture,' what choice do you have?

Baby steps. I didn't try to start out with anything too complex. I think this may have even been a ten minute pose. Just a pencil sketch, not even too many details, followed by a little playing with shades. I tried to get a feel for the paper, not a stock I am accustomed to working with, and how the paint flowed, or didn't in some cases. If I was not careful, I might have been in danger of enjoying myself.

Feeling rather confident with my initial results led me to branch out a bit. Then disaster struck. All of my worst fears were realized. Wet paint on top of wet paint created a smear that I was sure would herald the end of the world. It didn't. The world kept on moving and, I dare say, no one else even noticed that a catastrophe had been so close at hand. Imagine that.

Not only did I live to tell the tale but I even relished the experience. I even feel confident I can avoid giving the model '70's porn bush' in the future. Photoshop assist on this last image was provided by Alessandra (at least I think it was Alessandra. It was definitely one of those Plattners).