There's been a few days without art in my life, so it was great to get home this afternoon and take the time to tackle another A4 Acrylic image while I await some possible replies regarding the detail in the original 'Fishermen at Sea' painting that I'm working on but cannot finish due to the lack of clarity with the sourced photographs. I've put out the feelers, maybe I will get some help, but for now it's time to move on with some more art. For this demonstration painting, I'm using the Daler Rowney acrylic paper with its delightful weave surface that I mentioned in an earlier post.
Starting with a grid and a simple sketch of my main interest point (a sailing ship), I then roughly drew in the sea and where I wanted a lead-in line in the waves; before placing a 'Cryla' Artist quality Yellow Ochre acrylic wash across the whole page using my smaller Filbert brush.
Over this base layer, I added Winsor & Newton 'Galeria' Student quality Titanium White with a brush and then blended the White and softened the edges of the paint using a natural sponge. As always keeping the sponge immersed in a pot of clean water when not in a use during the painting session.
Lefranc 'Louvre' Black acrylic paint (which sits somewhere between Student and Artist quality acrylic paint) was added to the image, along with 'Louvre' Burnt Sienna, and 'Cryla' Prussian Blue. In all instances I tried to blend the colours with the natural sponge. When I was satisfied with the effect, it was a case of using the 1" Liner brush to add more Black and Prussian Blue into the sea and then while using the same brush; overlay these two acrylic colours with Titanium white. I flicked up some of the darker colour and then the white by dry-brushing away from the mass and up and towards the right of the page. This was my 'Teach Yourself' attempt to create some further movement within the painting.
You should get the idea of the various stages as you check both of the photo panels that lead to the last image that shows the painting so far.
The next stage will be to start blocking in the ship, but alas that may not be for a few days time, as my exercise regime is ever important. With that in mind I intend to run in the Tenovus Charity 5K in Lampeter tomorrow. I mention 'run', but in reality, it's a very so plod these days, but hey ho, at least I'm giving it a go. Maybe, you should 'give it a go' with this acrylic painting malarky, and try to create your own seascape.
You could produce similar in watercolour, but if you do try; then be extremely light on the pencil marks (including the grid) and rub out everything you don't want to see in the finished piece, before you start with the base wash. Careful visible pencil marks on the ship will add to the effect, but pencil grid or straight horizon marks would look dreadful. Plus with watercolour; the paper is the White. This means that you would sponge on the base Yellow Ochre layer and leave paper showing through, rather than brushing across the whole page. Anyway, I hope that some of these comments are helpful; enjoy your art!
