Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Thinking in Chinese and Heading for Salt Lake City!









I find that watercoloring a portrait in a traditional, straight ahead manner BORING. I paint in what I call my "California-Vibe" style. In other words,  a portrait that is loaded with amped up Xpression . . .  inventive paint application, evocative design elements, dramatic composition, and no-holds-barred color. This post shows the progressive stages in one of my latest creations. The majority of these CA-Vibe pieces work, but every once in a while, they can derail. What do you think of this one, kind reader????? By the way, I threw in that Salt Lake City at sunset photo, because I fly there tomorrow to conduct my first out-of-state "California-Vibe" portraiture workshop for Studio 21. I will be conduction a second one back in Sacramento this May, and my third in August at Bend, Oregon. I'm doing my best to spread the vibes!!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The one that didn't get away!






I charged hard on this one . . . a bonsai attack! By the time I got to the stage in the fourth photo here, I felt my watercolor portrait had turned into a steaming pile of paint poop! Pooh!! Undaunted, I continued my attack and turned the proverbial sow's ear into a silk purse!!! Can you spot the change ups?