14 x 11" Watercolor14 x 11 Watercolor
Tried to do a few quick pieces using some of the things from Alvaro C's workshop, mainly dry brush technique and rigger lines... Castagnet uses dry brush on his figures' legs to show action and movement, says they're too static otherwise. I think maybe it works better when the figures are at some distance and then it operates like architectural shorthand, but I'm not sure I'm a fan of this in every instance. The long slanty shadows are a also a Castagnet convention, and while I like how they activate the foreground, it does feel like I'm just using somebody else's trademark device. Did have fun with the rigger on the Trainspotting picture, though; felt like all those busy marks on the left helped to balance the main figure pushed to the right edge of the picture. I can hear my mother's voice in my head, though "Why did you paint that? Who is that? What's this about, anyway?" and my answer would be "Dunno." Most of the time I really don't know why something catches my interest. For practice, it really doesn't matter anyway. Both of these scenes were from Boston last summer, the one above is in front of the Public Library, and the other is near the art museum, where the T stop is above ground. What exactly is a trainspotter, anyway?
I like this one a lot, Janet. Long slanted shadows may be a Castagnet convention as you put it, but he certainly doesn't have the copyright to using them. They were done long before he came around. I am glad your figures aren't red-faced either...hehehe
ReplyDeleteKeep it up, you're doing great!