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Susan Grant Watercolors
Steps of a Painting
On this page, I want to show everyone the how I create a painting. There is a photo and
explanation for each step. Let me know what you think!
explanation for each step. Let me know what you think!
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Email Susan
sgwatercolors@gmail.com
sgwatercolors@gmail.com
A client provided multiple photos of 2 cats, Little Bit and Nipper. I chose these photos as my main inspiration.
(You'll see why I needed the second photo of Nipper with his eyes open.)
(You'll see why I needed the second photo of Nipper with his eyes open.)
sure I had the relative size of each cat correct. (Little Bit is a lot smaller
than Nipper.) I also made small adjustments to the perspective and wanted
to make sure the perspective of the stool and the guitar case made sense. I
also used the second photo of Nipper to have his eyes open in the painting.
Since this painting is in watercolor, I use the sketch to trace the main
reference lines onto the watercolor paper with graphite tracing paper.
Tracing the sketch is typical for me. You can draw directly onto the
watercolor paper, but lots of erasing on the watercolor paper will damage the
surface and the paint will do odd things on the damaged surface. I learned
this the hard way a long time ago.
than Nipper.) I also made small adjustments to the perspective and wanted
to make sure the perspective of the stool and the guitar case made sense. I
also used the second photo of Nipper to have his eyes open in the painting.
Since this painting is in watercolor, I use the sketch to trace the main
reference lines onto the watercolor paper with graphite tracing paper.
Tracing the sketch is typical for me. You can draw directly onto the
watercolor paper, but lots of erasing on the watercolor paper will damage the
surface and the paint will do odd things on the damaged surface. I learned
this the hard way a long time ago.
Now I have started painting. The watercolor paper is actually made of
cotton! The everyday paper used for books and printers and usually made
from wood fibers; there are no wood fibers in watercolor paper. (For any
watercolorists out there, this painting is on Arches paper, 140-lb,
cold-pressed.)
I started by painting by defining the major shapes in pale colors.
WNCW is a public radio station in broadcasting out of Spindale, NC - one
of the few stations to hear bluegrass music on the radio in our area
cotton! The everyday paper used for books and printers and usually made
from wood fibers; there are no wood fibers in watercolor paper. (For any
watercolorists out there, this painting is on Arches paper, 140-lb,
cold-pressed.)
I started by painting by defining the major shapes in pale colors.
WNCW is a public radio station in broadcasting out of Spindale, NC - one
of the few stations to hear bluegrass music on the radio in our area
When painting pet portraits, I generally focus on painting the animals'
faces first. If I can get the eyes, nose, and mouth correct, the rest of
the painting usually falls into place. I also tackled the lettering on the
bumper sticker that adorns the side of the guitar case.
faces first. If I can get the eyes, nose, and mouth correct, the rest of
the painting usually falls into place. I also tackled the lettering on the
bumper sticker that adorns the side of the guitar case.
And now I have started to drop in the darkest darks (the guitar case.)
This is a little unusual as most watercolor painters generally work
from light to dark. For me, I like to get those darks in early since it
helps me to gauge the values in the rest of the painting.
Believe it or not, I do not use black from a tube - I threw away my
tube of black years ago. Black from a tube looks too flat or "dead" to
me The dark in the guitar case is a mixture of ultramarine blue, burnt
sienna (warm brown) and permanent rose (pink-ish red color).
This is a little unusual as most watercolor painters generally work
from light to dark. For me, I like to get those darks in early since it
helps me to gauge the values in the rest of the painting.
Believe it or not, I do not use black from a tube - I threw away my
tube of black years ago. Black from a tube looks too flat or "dead" to
me The dark in the guitar case is a mixture of ultramarine blue, burnt
sienna (warm brown) and permanent rose (pink-ish red color).
I finally got tired of those shapes looking like they were floating in the
air, so I drew in the hardwood floor plank (and yes I used a ruler to get
the lines straight) and started painting wood grain. I was trying to
paint around the latches on the guitar case.
I also dropped a peachy-orange color onto the "wall" behind the cats.
Since the cats are mainly blue-gray in color, the orange was a nice
contrast, and sort of matches the colors in the wood, just a much
lighter color.
air, so I drew in the hardwood floor plank (and yes I used a ruler to get
the lines straight) and started painting wood grain. I was trying to
paint around the latches on the guitar case.
I also dropped a peachy-orange color onto the "wall" behind the cats.
Since the cats are mainly blue-gray in color, the orange was a nice
contrast, and sort of matches the colors in the wood, just a much
lighter color.
I finally got tired of those shapes looking like they were floating in the
air, so I drew in the hardwood floor plank (and yes I used a ruler to get
the lines straight) and started painting wood grain. I was trying to
paint around the latches on the guitar case.
I also dropped a peachy-orange color onto the "wall" behind the cats.
Since the cats are mainly blue-gray in color, the orange was a nice
contrast, and sort of matches the colors in the wood, just a much
lighter color.
air, so I drew in the hardwood floor plank (and yes I used a ruler to get
the lines straight) and started painting wood grain. I was trying to
paint around the latches on the guitar case.
I also dropped a peachy-orange color onto the "wall" behind the cats.
Since the cats are mainly blue-gray in color, the orange was a nice
contrast, and sort of matches the colors in the wood, just a much
lighter color.
Now we are getting close to the end! The guitar case is pretty much
done, but those papers inside I'm not liking so much. I could try to
paint music on them... but all that detail will probably demand the
attention of the viewer, when I want the attention on the cats...
I also made the orange on the wall a good bit stronger to balance the
wood floor.
done, but those papers inside I'm not liking so much. I could try to
paint music on them... but all that detail will probably demand the
attention of the viewer, when I want the attention on the cats...
I also made the orange on the wall a good bit stronger to balance the
wood floor.
And here is the finished painting.
I added so hints of structure to the molding at
the bottom of the wall. I also painted over the
white areas that started out as papers in the
bottom of the guitar case - I think this makes
Little Bit stand out a lot better.
I did the final touch-ups on the latches and
added opaque white paint at strategic spots on
the edges of the guitar case as reflected light.
While you can't see them too well in this photo -
both cats now have whiskers!
I added so hints of structure to the molding at
the bottom of the wall. I also painted over the
white areas that started out as papers in the
bottom of the guitar case - I think this makes
Little Bit stand out a lot better.
I did the final touch-ups on the latches and
added opaque white paint at strategic spots on
the edges of the guitar case as reflected light.
While you can't see them too well in this photo -
both cats now have whiskers!
| Little Bit and Nipper 10 x 12 inches |