Today we did more quick figure studies in life class, and again I did several charcoal drawings that I may post later. For now, here’s a look at a 45-minute oil sketch. I was mostly interested in the backlighting around her head and upper body.
Geoff Watson, “Emily, backlit”, oil study on panel, 11” x 14,” 2018.
With the colder weather, I've beeen working on larger projects in the studio. One is a self-portrait, in oil, on canvas. Unfortunately, it looks like me! I'll post it soon.
Today I also started work on a 16" x 20" version of the study below, which I painted on location at Cape Henlopen this summer. I plan to add clouds to add interest to the sky, and I'll add detail to the people and umbrellas on the beach. It will be fun!
Geoff Watson, "Herring Point," oil on panel, 8" x 10," 2017.
I had only about an hour free to paint today, so I did a quick sketch of the sales booth outside the Popcorn gallery at Glen Echo park. I was interested in all the curves of the building and shadows. I dashed in the figure at the last minute, as I was rushing to finish, so it's a bit odd. Obviously the picture could use more work, but it's an interesting little study.
Geoff Watson, "Popcorn Gallery," oil on panel, 8" x 10," 2017.
Today I painted five quick watercolor studies at River Bend Park in northern Virginia, on the Potomac. In each study I was experimenting with color and composition; I didn't bother with an underdrawing. Here are three examples.
Geoff Watson, "River Bend Study," watercolor on paper, 12" x 16," 2017.
Geoff Watson, "Seeing purple," watercolor on paper, about 6"x 8," 2017.
Geoff Watson, "Maryland, from Virginia," watercolor on paper, about 6" x 8," 2017.
I set up at Woodacres Park in Bethesda, hoping to paint the baseball backstop and fence, which were framed nicely by trees behind them. But time was short, so I settled for a quick study of the trees and resolved to paint the baseball diamond on another visit.
Geoff Watson, "Woodacres," oil on panel, 8" x 10," 2017.
I gave my new Soltek easel a spin! Together the easel and I visited Lake Needwood, in Rockville, Maryland. The easel was great, but my sun umbrella broke and floated into the lake. I waded in after it before it sailed away. Kinda comical!
I had planned to put the focus on a fisherman standing on the spit of land in the front right, because he looked cool and would have helped establish scale. But the flies started biting, so I omitted the fisherman and fled. The resulting study was rushed; I hope to go back and improve it. In any case, a good start.
Geoff Watson, "Lake Needwood," oil on canvas panel, 11" x 14," 2017.