Farmer and His Tractor Watercolor

I had been raking my brains over how to paint a machine that I could actually enjoy painting. I usually like to paint only living, moving and breathing subjects as you know :) but since 'Machinery' is the theme for our next exhibition, there was no escaping it this time.
So here I am, first painting done (I hope I can paint another one before the deadline) I have cheated a bit by including a man in it ..I hope the selectors won't mind!
Would love to hear what do you think.
Here are a few pictures I took while the painting was in progress. Its just a little glimpse into my process.

Started with the Tractor, keeping it fluid...

Add more color , block in the Farmer..My son later told me I shouldn't have painted the farmer's T-shirt blue as it clashes with tractor's color.I thought he was right and toned it down with a bit of grey later.

More details added to the front tyre. I hate painting perfect geometrical shapes :(

Adding shadows /deepening the colors.The farmer's face is too small to have many details- I had to add a tree behind him so his face is visible, at least.

Farmer and his Tractor

10x14  watercolor

Here is the final image. I have left the details in the tractor's engine area obscure as I didn't want to spoil that feeling of fluidity.

Materials Used: Arches cold pressed paper block 

Colors Used: Winsor and Newton, Daniel Smith paints:Cerulean Blue, Manganese blue, burnt orange, yellow Ochre, French Ultra. Blue, Permanent Magenta, Payne's Grey.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have a great day.

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Little Boy on the Beach

 I have been painting animals fairly regularly now, sometimes painting humans is a nice change. I saw this little guy on a Bournemouth beach this summer.It was a hot, sunny day and I snapped a lot of pictures of people enjoying the seaside; with intention to paint them some day.This fellow made to the top of the list! He looks so adorable with his curly brown hair and dark blue shorts.

SOLD

Boy on Beach 

8x8

Watercolor on Arches paper

Peachy _ Watercolor Portrait

"Peachy"

10"x14"

A portrait after a gap, based on a beautiful picture by Sanja Gjenero I wanted to experiment more with color- intended to make her hair strikingly different in terms of color- but it did not turn out the way I wanted...I even thought  of chucking it into the bin after the hair disaster - but then went ahead and completed it.

Its beautiful summer here in UK, so the subject seems perfect! I am off to Birmingham to meet some friends over the weekend, see you all when I am back.

Manu _ Revisited

I have been into 'experiment mode' lately.Usually I like my watercolors to be quick and spontaneous, but I was wondering if I was missing something. May be working more patiently and with layers would produce better results? So I gave it a try.Susan Harrison does realistic watercolors and she suggests a method that involves working in sections and 'priming' the paper every time."Priming' here means giving a double wash of clear water everytime you put a color wash in an area.Then letting the paper dry completely before putting colors in it again..Well the task was daunting to me, being an impatient one, but I wanted to see if the colors are absorbed more in this way, as Susan suggests.
I found out that going the whole way was not possible for me as I lost patience after putting two washes on her face.Than I reverted back to my own style to create details in her face, wet in wet.I painted the hair in my style, in one go, combining wet and dry brush.
Results? The colors do get absorbed more of you prime the paper again and again.It wont be lifted easily.But really I can't wait for the paper to dry after every wash! I think its better to combine both methods and create a new one :)
This is my niece Manu, an old photo of her.I have painted it before; even made a pencil portrait of it.But she is so beautiful,I am never tired of painting her!
Watercolor 14"x10"