Today a stiff wind danced across a nearby coastal valley with rolling fog dissolving edges of this tree study. Sepia & burnt sienna watercolor washes with pen & ink on hot press Sennelier calligraphy paper - a nice lush vellum like surface.

Recent figure study in watercolor and gouache, with small additions of pen. 4"x6" hot press block.

This is inspired by Thomas Gainsborough's sketches that show his interest in Poussin, Hobbema, Ruisdael, Wijnants and others. Gainsborough primarily used Dutch principles of design (with a touch of Fragonard), to create a unique vision all his own. I find it wonderful that he would compulsively find bits of coal, lichen and even broccoli plants for trees and then add mud/dirt to create invented landscapes as a model to work from. This he would set up on a small wooden table in his studio under candle light.

-Erik

Developing compositions loosely with watercolor, gouache - Zinc white, with small additions of pastel and pen and ink on some of the drawings/paintings. Very rapid studies in the 4" - 6" range. Most of the work on Fabriano Ingres paper with a laid style of paper, along with Arches hot press 90lb paper.

Recent finished commissioned landscape painting. 45x60 inches - oils on linen support. I apologize for some of the glare in the photo.

Sketch book detail of a grove study. Experiments with higgins sepia ink with fountain black ink as well. Dip pen with tinted washes on Ingres paper (Fabriano Classic Artist's Journal). I was taking a look at some of Ruben's pen and ink and wash studies, sometimes with chalk, beyond mind blowing!

Limited palette Frisian landscape with gray gouache (Daler Rowney brand), in addition Rembrandt pastels mostly in the clouds and transparent sepia, umber watercolors for the foreground.... gray primed panel as the foundation.

Today I saw some work by Salomon van Ruysdael (1602-1670, Haarlem) and was struck how thin and translucent the large water themed landscape was painted. He was the uncle of Jacob van Ruisdael considered one of the greatest landscape painters and a huge influence on Turner.

Small experimental riverbank study from imagination (4"x4") in gouache & watercolor. Chinese white was used from a watercolor line, rather than gouache. This was painted on a clay based primed panel that has an absorbent watercolor paper quality to the surface. Gum arabic used in the darker passages to increase depth.

Landscape study near the coastal farming town of Pescadero, California. Rough sketch to start with, pencil layout, washes and general steps to the finished painting. The sun went down fast and I darkened the foreground towards the end. Gouache & mostly watercolors.

I am thrilled to share with you some more watercolor and gouache painting tips with my first DVD release coming out Dec.22, 2008! It's been a real pleasure working with the folks over at The Gnomon Workshop in Los Angeles, Ca. I am planning more in the series, including on site sketching, mood sketches, time of day studies and how to approach master studies down the road.

Watercolor & Gouache DVD

Mixed media/digital color sketches for a landscape painting commission. The finished size will be 45x60 inches in oils.
(Mono chromatic gouache underpainting scanned in with Painter X work over that.)

Suggested Materials list for Workshop:

Watercolors:

M.Graham makes a nice line, but W&N are fine too.

Burnt Sienna

Burnt Umber

Ivory Black

Yellow Ochre

Ultramarine Blue

Anthraquinone Blue

Hansa Yellow

Quinacridone Red

Sap Green Permanent/ or Virdian


Gouaches: M.Graham

Titanium White

Ivory Black


Gouache Extras: Not needed, but nice to experiment with.

Daler Rowney Brand

Delft Blue, Neutral Gray 1, 2, 3. Warm Gray 1,2,3. Van Dyke Brown Hue


Watercolor Brushes:

Blick Master Kolinsky Sable Brushes work great!

Sizes 1,4, 6 Plus any kind of Synthetic blend Flat brush, 3/4 inch wide. (Robert Simmons Short Handle Sapphire Brushes work fine for flats.

Paper Blocks:

Fabriano Artistico Watercolor Block Hot Press 5"x7", 9"x12", Cold Press same size to see texture differences.

Drawing Tools,

Penicls - 2b, kneaded eraser, vine charcoal, pitt artist pens, fine tip and brush tip.

SketchBook (smooth paper) of your choice, not too small.


Water jar, paper towels.

Upcoming Fall 2008 Painting Workshop!

Gouache and Watercolor Painting in Mendocino, CA

Workshop info & Location:
Fall/Fine Art Section

Please join me for a fun weekend, exploring two of my favorite mediums.
________________________________________________________
October 4 - 5, 2008
GOUACHE AND WATERCOLOR PAINTING
Erik Tiemens
Class begins Saturday, October 4th. Two day workshop meets Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Tuition: $175 (members may take a $25 discount on one workshop per year). NOTE: THIS CLASS IS FOR INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED STUDENTS.

From the smallest thumbnail sketch to more finished works in the field, discover the importance of planning and seeing more options in your compositions, color palettes and tonal combinations before committing time on larger studio paintings. The workshop will go over techniques to previsualize your final idea and truly see the many options a location can inspire in a final painting. By combining the best of gouache’s opaque-change friendly qualities with watercolor’s transparent subtlety you can work more efficiently in capturing lighting, atmosphere and tonal information. Intermediate to Advanced. Tuition: $175.

Recent sketches from my trip on the East Coast. Fantastic clouds there! I also got to see the Turner show and a nice collection of Dutch landscape paintings from the 17th century at the Met in NYC. In addition a real highlight was getting together with Jim Gurney and his wife Jeanette for some outdoor plein air painting.. lots of fun. My friend Bill Mather joined me too.

"The Unknown Path" 16x20"

Recent oil painting on panel that was created for the Totoro Forest Project. There will be an auction and a book of the artwork with 200 artists sharing their creations this September with selected pieces being shown at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco, Ca. All proceeds will go to help save the Sayama forest near Tokyo which is threatened by development.

More info here:

I just wanted to mention I will be giving a workshop this weekend
(June 15, 2008) in Hollywood, California with the Gnomon School of Visual Effects.
Many talented folks who I have worked with and are friends with
will be presenting too. Should be fun. I hope to see you there if you are in the area.

http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/events.html


I am doing a workshop this October in Northern California (Mendocino) also.
This will have more of a focus for fine artists and concept artist who
want to improve their sketching skills and how to work with gouache and watercolor
in the planning stages for more finished work.

http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org/PSS_Cart.36.LassoApp?category=189&feature2=Fall

Watercolor & Gouache still life. Quick study of textures and edges.

Part 3 Gouache Demo (last section)

Part 2 of the 3 part Gouache Demo. Thanks for all the positive feedback!

1 of 3 (5 minutes each) quicktime videos. This is a my first demo, done spur of the moment and fairly sloppy but gets the idea across. The main theme of the lesson here is starting loose, letting shapes evolve into forms that are influenced by moody light.



Enjoy!