SIDE TRACKED

Though I'd love to be painting whatever inspires me sometimes capitalism gets in the way. I have a number of various commissions which are due this Christmas season so I thought I better get underway. This client contacted be about a touching gift for her husband of their Cocker Spaniel who passed away. The painting was to match a previous watercolor painting of another family pet done by another artist. Though I don't usually work in watercolor and my style would not necessarily match I agreed to take on the commission. Photos of the dog were not the best but I did some research using Google images of other similar black and tan Cocker Spaniels and was hopefully able to recreate their family pet. This is the prelimary sketch for approval. I have a few questions of the client regarding the exact coloring and placement of the chest blaze, muzzle coloring and ear configuration. Hopefully I have captured the animal correctly.

TRY, TRY AGAIN

The painting in your mind doesn't often match what happens on the canvas. While I was happy with the progress on the tarpon, the pinfish were driving me crazy. They just looked too flat and didn't have that finished look that was "floating" in my mind. Then the light bulb went on they actually were too flat. Though I had a few of the individual fish in the background, shadowed deeply, I had not established a middle ground for the reast of the school. Also, I sat and concentrated on my "frozen" little pinfish and discovered that he really had a lot of brown tones while I was mainly adding grays and blue. The minute I added a raw umber glaze on the pinfish that were in the middle of the pack I got the effect I was looking for. Next I added a white glaze using Windsor and Newton Mixing white (it's more transparent that Titanium) on the most prominent fish and magically my little fish were swimming like I wanted. Finally I sharpened the details on the most prominent fish and I'm getting closer to the elusive painting in my mind. TIP: Windsor and Newton Alkyd Mixing White is the most transparent white, to increase this I use Gamblin Galyd Lite to make a crystal looking glaze.