Artist Hideout

My first inkwash in five years.

by William Lehman on October 10th, 2006

I have been collecting art supplies for the last six years. I had this small pad of watercolor paper sitting in the closet, and only just now unwrapped it. It’s old enough now that I had to use a knife to get the pages apart.

It is daunting to look at a blank page to be filled. I thought I’d start small since I’m rusty, so this is a 4×6″, 140 lb coldpress watercolor paper. Right now, I’m not going to go through the process of stretching it or anything, I’m just going to create.

No plan, no ideas, just create.

So, I begin with digging my inks out of the closet too, getting some water and a paintbrush.

My first step is lay down the basic background. Apparently, I decide on a landscape with this first step. I immediately realize the importance of stretching watercolor paper out and stapling it to something solid.

Evergreen trees start to pop up in the distance. I am still working with the background and trying to fill it in. The idea with inkwash is to work from light to dark, back to front. This builds the illustration with a depth of vibrancy that can’t really be achieved all at once.

The classic barn structure for a landscape comes into play here. To tell you the truth, I about gave up at this point, but since this is about becoming a better artist and I’m on that journey too, I trust you will not laugh at this here.

Now, my wife is a tree hugger. I believe I am going to start a support group for husbands of tree huggers anonymous. Each new member will recieve a chainsaw in a glass case. Printed on the side of this will be the words “Break glass in case of marital discomfort” Anyway, since I love my wife, I put a tree up front here. At this point I also realize the barn does not have doors. I figure then that they must be on the back side (the one we can’t see)

I love fall, so does my illustration now with a little bit of yellow leaves.

Red leaves. Oh, and I added a fence which really increased the idea of depth here.

Some darker brown, and I think I am going to call this one finished, so I signed it (tiny signature).

Here is the finished project. (Click image for a larger view). It’s not meant to be the most beautiful work of art ever or anything. It is only meant to capture my mood, my feelings, my attitude… and convey them to the viewer.

Ansel Adams said “A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”

I would venture to say that this is true with any type of art as well. Capture the moment of the artist, even their current level of ability, what they are feeling and what they are seeing as they paint, and you have demonstrated greatness.

Tags: art, artist, drawing, illustration, image, india ink, ink, inkwash, paint, watercolor

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POSTED IN: Brain Shavings, Projects