My Favorite Dragon, WIP

Cliff Dwelling Dragon, WIP

Purple Gargoyle Needs A Name

Purple Gargoyle Needs A Name, 8" x 10" watercolor on Arches 140#

Edit: His name is "Night Guardian"

I LOVE this guy! I'm really happy with him. I believe the paper made all the difference. Arches is the absolute best! I also used quinacrodone pigments, which are incredibly transparent -- quin gold on the moon, belly, and wings; quin violet in the body. I used hooker's green for underpainting, but I won't do that again. I'm not completely happy with its effect as a complementary color.

Another Cliff-Dwelling Dragon

Another Cliff-Dwelling Dragon, 15" x 19" watercolor on Canson 140#

This is the largest painting I've done so far. The background when in quickly and easily, but I labored on the dragon a bit too much. As it stands, this will be my centerpiece in my ConQuesT art show display in late May. He might become a print, as well.

My Favorite Dragon

A Dragon In Need Of A Name, 11" x 15" watercolor on Strathmore #140.

I'm really happy with the way this one turned out. I think I will make prints of him. I took great care in developing his shadows, his eyes, and the cliff.

Belly Flop

Belly Flop, 9"x12" watercolor on 140# Arches

I kinda like this little guy. I might make prints of him. I was afraid I had overworked him, but I think he can be saved. I had used that shade of yellow that doesn't scan well, so I went back with cadmium yellow and cadmium orange. Also, I lifted off some of the blue to brighten his eyes. I still need to give his smile more definition and touch up his claws with some china white.

What's on the table?

Another dragon, a work in progress. I'm applying very thin layers of underpainting on this one, trying to build up the three-dimensionality of this guy. Just how pale? Compare the painting to the worktable. Very pale. Stay tuned.

I'm really intrigued by his eyes. I'm not sure how I'm going to keep their expressiveness when I apply color to the pupil.

The Watchers

The Watchers, 2 related paintings, 11"x15" watercolor on Strathmore 140#

I'm not sure where these guys came from. I just started sketching freehand on stretched watercolor paper. I'm not sure they're really finished. I think they lack definition in the body modeling, and in their perches.

Squareheaded Girlfriend

Squareheaded Girlfriend,
11" x 15", Watercolor and Watercolor Crayon on 140# Strathmore

After working on ACEOs for so long, I had the urge to work on a larger surface. This started as a random sketch in my sketchbook, then redrawn freehand in watercolor crayon on an 11" x 15" sheet of watercolor paper. The final piece involved more watercolor crayon, regular watercolors, and the plasticwrap texture technique in the background.

Castle Glow aka The Red Keep ACEO

Castle Glow aka The Red Keep,
2.5"x3.5" watercolor on Canson 140#

This started as an exercise in graded wash, and turned into a castle in the warm glow of late afternoon.

Worm

Worm,
Approximately 3"x5" watercolor on Arches 140#

A little worm, in search of a book. This is a simple practice piece I started in class a few months ago and finished up last week.

Sitting Pretty On A Wall

Step 1. I started this piece when I was still working with my watercolor teacher. At her suggestion, I started with a combination of new gamboge and cobalt. At this stage, there is the new gamboge layer, then a green layer with salt.

Step 2. At this point, I considered the piece done, but I was unhappy with the way the new gamboge overpowered everything else. Also, the color simply does not scan well, so I doubt I could make prints from it.

Step 3. I added a glaze of cobalt over the body and wings to tone down the new gamboge. The overall effect is more greenish, but I'm still not satisfied. I might try the same subject again later.

Sitting Pretty On A Wall, 8x10 watercolor on Arches 140#