Friday, February 25, 2011

Woman Reading

Drawn this morning, from life.

Watercolor on watercolor paper, about 8"x12".

This sketch is an experiment with Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor Sticks.

I ordered three (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre and burnt sienna) to try and they arrived yesterday.

I haven't used these enough to judge them, but my first impression is that, combined with water and brush, they are fun to draw with and act like watercolor.  When used without the water, the effect is more like bad crayon.  Here's a link to a review of the sticks by Robert Sloan, an oil pastel artist.

26 comments:

  1. This person looks familiar! Where was this at, JS?

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  2. How'd you like the sticks? It seems like the can do some cool effects. The hair is amazing, for example.

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  3. Jean,
    nice job!
    I liked the distribution
    of 'weights' in the composition!

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  4. CO, I drew this in Austin. And it's not a self-portrait.

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  5. Margaret, I added some info into the body of this post about the sticks. The bottom line--it's too soon for me to say, but good first impression.

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  6. I love the free form lines and her glasses! I want those glasses. :-))

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  7. Thanks, Pamo. I needed that laugh.

    I've been dealing with a trick knee, which is more like the trick part of trick-or-treat, than, say, a trip to the Magic Castle.

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  8. Somehow I don't think the sticks would behave the same way in my hands as they do in yours. I love the shadows and curve of the mouth, the lower lip and the chin. Among other things.

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  9. I remember working with oil sticks I'd purchased from Standard Brands before they became Blick. I also remember loving them (I would put them in last atop acrylic) The effect seems similar, but with water base you can play up the smear. Is this a highly textured paper?

    btw: I put in an addition on the bottom of my post page, The street artist are reacting to a Bansky put up yesterday at First and Soto. Make sure you go to both links

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  10. To this Crayola guy, it's educational and impressive how you keep up with all these techniques.

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  11. PA, it's a cold pressed watercolor paper--lumpy.

    I'm going to take another pass at your post; I'm feeling somewhat better, but still not fully up to speed.

    But I have been watching a ton of hulu and netflix. Just saw An Education.

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  12. Thanks, Banjo, though I don't think it's keeping up, more like playing with stuff I enjoy.

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  13. Hi Jean, I came back from a week aways from blog...
    so nice to see this work, she looks like the girl friend of my partner's son...
    very nice

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  14. I like this painting and the glasses are so vivid. Love the colors too!

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  15. I like the way her head leans into the wildness of her hair.

    btw...I have a sprained knee myself. It is really boring letting it recover.
    It's good that you could get to your drawing group.

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  16. Thanks, Shanna.

    Good luck with your knee. I hope you heal well and soon.

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  17. Congrats on your victory today over at the PIO's site, JS! A historical moment no doubt.

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  18. CP, I won once before. But this week was tough enough that another win is very welcome.

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  19. I'm working my way backward catching up on your posts. I'm fascinated by your ability to capture a person's spirit. She looks like someone I would like to know with her pensive expression, angular glasses and wild hair. She's beautiful.

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