Painting In Other Media
Although watercolor is my medium of choice and favorite of all, I do paint in other media including two other water-based ones - gouache and casein. I also draw both with regular pencil and a version of colored pencil known as "Derwent Drawing Pencils".
All are satisfying and creatively energizing in their own way. Other than drawing with a regular pencil on white drawing paper, I came to each of these other media separately and for different reasons. All emerged as important tools for deepening my understanding of painting.
“Silver Street Fall”
Derwent Colored Drawing pencils on toned paper. A study of autumn color, light and shadow.
There are a number of benefits of this sort of artistic cross-training. Among those is required change in thinking and approach, along with the means to study more advanced aspects of color.
My own watercolor style involves a lot of loose, fluid washes, variegated passages and color that is encouraged to mix on the paper. Neither casein or gouache behave the same, even when thinned and dilute. Of course pencil marks of either graphic or multi-chorme have no fluidity whatsoever.
“Autumn Smoke”
Gouache on toned paper. This is s study of a scene intended to be a larger watercolor work. I enjoy the study so much, I’ve not gotten to the larger painting.
All of these media are responsive to methodical application that supports consideration and study of changes in color that represent changes in light and form. All while allowing for a wide stylistic range.
Most of these works are smaller because I began using each of these different media to make small studies of a scene or subject that was meant to become a larger watercolor painting. Over time, I began to enjoy each media for it's own beauty, unique character and individual expressive quality.
“Studio Still Life”
Casein on toned watercolor paper. There is a shelf near a large, east-facing window in my studio. It is a great place to set up informal still life objects that can be painted from direct observation. I prefer to paint these in the mid-morning light, as shown in this small work.
Although I still consider myself primarily a watercolor painter, I am frequently working in these media on more serious works. To that point, my studio used to have one 'painting set-up' - essentially a taboret supported drawing table meant for watercolor work. Now there is a second easel set up for painting in casein or gouache. It is not unusual to have both an in process watercolor painting and in-process opaque media painting going at the same time.
The images in the post are some of the most recent. Be assured that more is one the way.
“Summer Afternoon”
Derwent Colored Drawing pencil on toned paper. Just a simple study of light on a summer day. These drawing pencils have color, but all are lower intensity. When using them, one is forced to think in terms of value and intensity contrasts.