"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Vintage Fire Truck

This is the latest lesson I have prepared for my intermediate watercolor students at the Riverside Arts Center.  It is a vintage fire truck from the Wet Canvas image reference library.  The photographer is "trix from the stix."  The painting is 9" x 12" and is painted on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper.  I tried to keep it nice and loose and except for the final details, it is basically a painting with a poured underpainting in reds and light browns.  I lifted the highlights on the truck with a damp brush while the painting was still wet.  Then I did a very wet-in-wet painting of the foliage and after all dried - I tightened it up with the detailing.  I used a lot of greens in the background because I like the contrast created by the complementary reds and greens.  Hope the students enjoy painting this one.  I love vintage trucks!

7 comments:

Teresa said...

I love the painting... and the subject matter. Great job!

Barb Sailor said...

Thanks, Teresa. I did another painting of this truck last night during the class I teach - had them paint with me step by step. It was a lot of fun and the second one is different from the first. It is interesting that they are so different. I cannot paint the same thing twice.

Gillian Mowbray said...

I love vintage trucks too. This is Stunning, Barb - the colours make it sing!

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Barb...you make this process sound so easy! I know therein lies so much talent and experience that you probably do make it look easy, too. I'd sure love to be in your classes and would hope that some of your talented vibes would rub off on me!

Barb Sailor said...

Gillian...Thanks for commenting. There is really something very appealing about vintage trucks, isn't there? Great shapes! Glad you like the colors, too! When in doubt, use complements. tee hee!

Barb Sailor said...

Susan...You certainly don't need my talented vibes - you have an abundance of your own!!! As far as easy is concernted,I try to make it seem easy for my students because I know that you can get discouraged very quickly in watercolor. I honestly think that success in painting is in great part, a good attitude and positive thought processes...if you think you can, you can!!! Positive encouragement goes a long way. In my classes the students are not allowed to make negative comments about their work and during "critique" sessions, I try to keep it constructive, helpful criticism.

Mary Paquet said...

Neat painting, Barb. I'm sure your students will enjoy the red and green contrasting colors, while challenged to vary the greens. Your process is very interesting because the painting looks quite detailed, but was rendered in a very loose style.