Classical Experiment on Plastic

Recent experiment with classical themes in miniature. Watercolor and gouache with small additions of ink on synthetic (plastic) paper (Yupo).  Invented Flemish Landscape  -  5.5" x 3.25".


Roman Arch in Ruins  -  5.5" x 2.75"- Watercolor and gouache with small additions of ink on Yupo paper. Yupo is very interesting to paint on, being that it almost doesn't work because it is so fragile. It is remarkable in how you can edit shapes by completely wiping them off with a wet brush and rag. But you have to be a surgeon to carefully glaze washes over the under painting. Like a high wire act, I relished this challenge in miniatura and hope to continue with more studies on such an elusive surface.

Creating Skies

Introducing a HD landscape painting video clip showing the process of creating cloud shapes and skies with watercolor and gouache. Roughly halfway the music gets louder, just to let you know. You can see the full resolution version if you click over to my Vimeo link.

Creating imaginative landscapes with skies in watercolor and gouache from Erik Tiemens on Vimeo.

Morning Fog Dissolves Away

 

A recent watercolor study of mist and fog, created in the morning light near Sausalito, CA.
5"x7" - Fabriano hot pressed paper. It was interesting working with more granular pigments (Daniel Smith - Lunar Blue W/C ) in the washes, which adds a bit of character to the surface.

Fog & Sun

 The other day I had a chance to paint in watercolors on location near the Golden Gate Bridge. The dance of light and fog melted the edges of the hillside above the cove. As a rapid study in light I was going for a rough impression, rather than documenting fine details. One of the most saturated color elements I saw were orange construction tarps, wonderfully backlit.

'Sunlight and Fog at Horseshoe Cove, Marin' -  Watercolor -9"x12" Fabriano - Artistico - Cold Pressed watercolor paper.

Upcoming Workshop - 2013!

Broaden Your Horizon - Painting Skies in Gouache, Watercolor and Acrylics Workshop - at The Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA this coming November 16-17, 2013. 

For more info and to sign up, click here!

Fall 2013 Workshop

I'm pleased to announce a new workshop, exploring the subject matter of skies and distant horizons.

Broaden Your Horizon - Painting Skies in Gouache, Watercolor and Acrylics Workshop - at The Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA this coming November 16-17, 2013. 

For more info and to sign up, click here!

"August Sky" - Watercolor with touches of gouache and small additions of watercolor crayon. Hot Pressed paper (Fabriano) 5x5.5"

Sky Sketches

Seeing how often there is variation in our local weather, I am thinking of launching a possible Mid–November 2013 Workshop that would focus on paintings skies, clouds and the effects of atmosphere on distant landscapes. This could be held in San Franscisco at the Fort Mason Center. I would also go over historical examples of artists capturing the fleeting changes of the sky. Any feedback or suggestions for workshop times/themes and mediums to work with are welcomed.

Painting info:

Top – Watercolor on hot pressed paper*  –  Middle- Gouache & W/C on hot pressed paper* –

Bottom- Watercolor with touches of gouache on cold pressed paper*

All - roughly 5x7 inches and available for sale.

*Fabriano block Watercolor papers

Summer Fog

Rapid watercolor and gouache landscape study. It was interesting to to see the frosted cream colored glass lamps be the lightest value in the scene and the grass beaming an intense viridian green under the overcast sky. This was painted in the spirit of the Dutch – Hague school (extreme in its greyness).  Starting with a cool grey gouache base I worked over this with additional washes and color notes.

Fluid brand watercolor paper block –cold press –  4 x 8 inches.

Finding the fog and wind was not hard today at Golden Gate Park, and wow it started to get cold. My daughter worked alongside me wearing a winter coat to brave the elements. This would be her second run with oil paints; using a small pochade box I gave her for her birthday as a mobile art studio. Once she was finished she was running around and rolling on the grass! How great to be seven.

Finding the unusual is something I like to seek out when sketching, especially when nature tries to make a comeback in disturbed or abandoned areas. In this case an active bunch of bamboo is over taking a shuttered sailboat rental hut. All varieties of old tech sprouting on the top of the structure breakup the boxy shape.

Materials: Carbon pencil, dip pen, brush, sepia ink and M.Graham sepia watercolor. Pitt pen and small additions of white gouache on Fabriano (Classic Artist's Journal) sketchbook cream colored paper. (6"x8" per page)

As a note anyone visiting NYC area this summer should see the Sargent watercolor show, amazing work in person! This is at the Brooklyn Art Museum and will go on to Boston's MFA this fall I believe.

ARC International Salon Competition

I'm very happy to share that I was selected as a finalist and received a Honorable Mention in the Landscape painting category for Art Renewal Center's 2012 / 2013 International Salon Competition.

With about 2000 entries from over 850 artists, I'm thrilled to be included in the Salon. This gives me further encouragement to pursue classical landscape painting in both oils and watercolor-gouache. My work will also be included in the upcoming Salon Catalogue.

Link: Honorable Mention in the Landscape Category

*Scroll down to the Landscape Section

Pt. Bonita Trio - Ocean/Cliff Gouache Studies

I noticed a big change in the weather today with clouds approaching quickly. I set out to create some rapid lighting and mood studies of the cliffs and ocean in gouache before any rain showers would pummel my easel. It was interesting to block-in three small images at once. Not being a slave to the location, I saw this as a chance to try variations on a theme. I took some video with a portable camera as an experiment as well. Here are some of the stills.

Locations and studies like this can serve as a point of inspiration later on with studio work or for commercial projects. Be sure to check out my new upcoming Inventing Landscapes Workshop - March 9-10, 2013 - SF, hope you can make it! I'm excited by the group who has signed up so far.

High Surf in Gouache

Painting in gouache and watercolor along the coast today. High surf conditions made for some beautiful fanning off the tops of the crashing waves. 4" x 9" - Sennelier hot press paper block. A few brave souls surfed well beyond the chop. I sighted a whale as well.

Big thanks for those who have signed up for the upcoming workshop. If you are thinking of signing up, please do!! March 9-10, 2013.