Playing With Paint

     When you paint for a living it sometimes takes an icky painting day to get you to break out of work mode and just play with the paints again and that is exactly what I did this week. Just freaking played. And playing is fun. So that means work is fun!  I set the timer and did some more timed sketches of one my favorite subjects - NFL Football. When the timer goes off it's done. No chance to muck it up, or dab, dab, dab, dab... paint and go. And *that* for me is what watercolor is all about. Spontaneity, freshness, deliberate and confident brushstrokes.. And sometimes when I'm working on a big project or a commission I forget that and end up in it muck- it-up-land. Doing that ....one more thing.... which usually is the kiss of death for a watercolor painting. 

     I taped off a sheet of watercolor into approximately 6 x 5 rectangles and went through my wonderfully extensive football reference photo library. Wonderful because I took the photos myself! 

I did contour drawings and then had at it..  Simplicity is the name of the game, basic shapes and suggestions and just let the eye fill in the details. It really is a great exercise to make me stop thinking to much and just let my instincts take over. And did I mention it's fun!

First attempt 20 minutes... okay 22 minutes because Eli's helmet needed a tad more of detail.  Keep in mind too that these are bit larger than the originals.

Quarterback Eli Manning of the New York Giants

Eli Manning, ©DeborahBollmanStudio 2013

Next came Frank Gore from my favorite team the San Francisco 49ers. I gave myself 30 minutes with this but it was actually too much time. I started to fuss with it so for the next one it's back to 20 minutes. I may do a larger version of this one.

Frank Gore ©DeborahBollmanStudio 2013

     And finally another 49ers painting... Vernon Davis who is himself and artist and actually owns an art gallery! Check it it out here!  With this one it was back to 20 minutes again. And I 'm quite happy with the result. Mission accomplished!

Vernon Davis ©DeborahBollmanStudio 2013

All of these are available for purchase! First emails to me at deborah@deborahbollman.com gets them! $60 each! How fun would these be for stocking stuffers?


     And speaking of stocking stuffers I am booking for those holiday commissions and this year am adding NFL paintings to the list! So if you have a dog, horse or football fan ( and who doesn't?) then a commissioned portrait would make a treasured gift! I can do watercolor or acrylic on canvas.  The process super easy to get started. Drop me an email if you have an interest! Deborah@DeborahBollman.com