In the beginning . . .

Some people have asked me about my watercolor underpaintings and how I begin on a project - so, here is what I am working on right now.

I am going to be in an art show in St Michaels on Saturday, August 10.  This show is part of the BIG Bicentennial Celebration - Battle of St Michaels event.  It's sort of a themed show - St Michaels, War of 1812, Eastern Shore, local scenery, etc.  Since I seem to be in my 'children' period (who knew I would categorize my paintings into 'periods?'), I am working on "Children of the Eastern Shore."

Some time ago I had taken a picture of a cute little squatting boy who is looking at something on the ground.  I love this pose - it's so kidlike.  So, I am using his 'squat' and have put him on a dock. He is now looking at a crab.

I sketched it, put it on sanded pastel paper and then loosely painted the watercolor underpainting.  When I stood back and looked at it again, the dock looked strange.  (See the slanted vertical lines?) Often when you combine two photos the perspective or shadows are off.  To correct this, I scratched in some horizontal lines and added more of the blue/green water across the back. The great thing about an underpainting, I can get an idea . . . and then go over it and make further changes when I get to the pastel.

Well, I got this far and took it to my watercolor class for review. One of the suggestions was to make the crab bigger and move him more to the center . . .and closer to the little boy.  Now, if that were my grandchild on the dock he would NEVER be that close to a crab . . .especially wearing flip flops, but since I made up the whole thing, it may work.

I started with some pastel today and decided to experiment with changing the color of his clothes . . .I may end up going back to a blue shirt - will keep looking at it for awhile. I like to look at paintings from across the room for a few days. It will usually tell me what to do next.

The crab needs a lot more work. I am going to try to make him stand up more and wave his claws around. Those crazy crabs like to threaten small children! (and grown-ups, too)

So, this is what I have so far . . .  I'll post the finished painting at a later date!