ENTRY #1

 I have been working on this painting for two days now.  In the past, each one has come with its own unique set of challenges and this one is no different...well I guess it IS different in that it has "double" the challenges. That's because I will be painting two doggies in this one--Phoebe and Fraser. Wendy has provided me with two photographs to work from. They are copyrighted prints so before I do anything, I will contact the photographer to get her permission to copy her work. After a lovely conversation with her on the phone, Erika Thimms has given me the go ahead.

PHOEBE AND FRASER

One of the headaches of water colour painting for me is the necessity to stretch the paper, which for some reason I have a terrible time with. I just haven't found a method that is consistently successful. That may be because I use different papers. This painting will be on Arches 300lb cold press. The new melamine board I picked up at Home Depot doesn't hold the tape I use so I am so glad I tried it out first on cheaper paper. I have reverted back to my old method and luckily, with the heavier paper, it worked.

There are not many colours in my palette for this one. I prefer to mix my colours to get grey/black as it gives more depth--that means ultramarine blue mixed with burnt sienna. The buff colour in Fraser is a mix of cascade green, sepia and verona gold. I love the colour of verona gold but it is my least favourite pigment to work with. I think it is because gum arabic is the binding medium and it tends to argue with water.

In the picture above, I have laid down my sketch so am ready to apply my first brush stroke. And after two days, here's where I am at.

The biggest challenge for me is that I can't make out details in the eyes, nose and ears. That's because there is not enough contrast in all that black that's going on with these guys. It's a hurdle, but hopefully one I can work around.