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Paper: 300 lb cold press, Arches

Paints: Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, Raw Sienna, Quinacridone Red, Hookers Green.

Today's painting is brought to you with a big slice of humble pie. I went to a friend's studio to paint from the model.  He was dressed as a construction worker along with a big shovel for a prop.  We started with a series of short poses. I used my Moleskin book and the half pan box for some of them and got some decent sketches.  Then we went for the long pose which was 90 minutes plus breaks. I decided to do the entire figure on a 12x16 paper.  This is something I can easily take on in pastel or oil but I forgot about the most important aspect of watercolor; timing.

I had an idea in my head how I wanted it to look but did not fully plan it out on the paper.  The pencil line was light and on the first break when I put in the dark background wash I completely covered the entire background which I did not mean to do by now the wash around the figure was dry adjusting it made it splotchy  The paint derailed from there with the drawing not fully in the figure became disproportionate I realized quickly on that I was in trouble but not soon enough to start again so I attempted to go into salvage mode, which means trying out everything and anything on the painting to see what happens.  Quite frankly the painting was too complicated and too large for my ability in that short amount of time. What I would like to do is to tackle a larger figurative work for this final week of the challenge but take my time and post the process.  I know I called my challenge 30 watercolors in 30 days but I will learn more by slowing down now and working some larger pieces including (gulp) stretching a big sheet of paper.

What I learned:

REALLY PLAN where you want the darks and lights before you start.

Do not take on too much in too short of time.

Really beautiful darks come from ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. 

Make the wash puddle twice as large as you think you need.