Travel Journal Sketching

“I can’t think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old again. You can’t read anything, you have only the most rudimentary sense of how things work, you can’t even reliably cross a street without endangering your life. Your whole existence becomes a series of interesting guesses.” – Bill Bryson

Super fast sketches in my sketch book. A drawing sketchbook at that. This paper actually did ok accepting the water. This took less that 5 minutes. Teaching myself to not overthink and just commit to the marks.

How fun would it be to do these in your travel journal while you explore the world? Wait? What? You don't have a travel journal?

Want to learn how?

 I'll be doing a series of "how to " videos. Be sure to follow this blog or Facebook page for updates on the release. 

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Assassin's Creed Art

Edward Kenway, Assassins Creed

My son is calling this painting done. He's anxious to hang it! I painting this image of a character called Edward Kenway from the game Assassin's Creed. Not my ususal subject matter, but it was fun to do and I learned a lot doing it. Watercolor.

Watercolor Abstract

©DeborahBollmanWatercolors, Abstract,  8 x 10

Not my usual  style, but I'm feeling compelled to explore abstract painting and I'm having fun doing it. It alows me to explore the relationship between value and color temperature. Plus, it's just plain fun!

Waking Up To Paint

Over the past few months I seem to get inspired to paint things a little after 2 am. I wake up out of a sound sleep with these ideas. My initial reaction was ugh... is then to just lay there and wait til the inspiration passes. But it doesn't pass, and I can't fall back asleep. So I have decided to just get up and do these very fast paint slinging sessions in a drawing sketchbook.
You just never know when inspiration will strike

So out of these late evening painting slinging things comes another watercolor football painting.
I was very drawn to the form of this player's hand and the fold of the fabric.

This one i(below) s close to be finished. Just 2 sessions..

 

Father's Day is Just Around the Corner!
An original NFL painting would make a wonderful gift the man cave or office! Drop me an email at Deborah@DeborahBollman.com or have a look at what is currently available here.. Football Art

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All paintings are unmatted and unframed- unless stated otherwise.
Email me for additonal info and photos on works or for commissioning a portrait
Gift Certificates & Layaway Available

Painting NY Giants Rookies into their Uniforms

And now for something a little different. One of my current projects is painting NY Giants rookies into their uniforms.

 

Painting NY Giants Rookies into their Uniforms

 

 

Yes. You heard that right. In my other life I’m a horse trainer and one of the  writers for GiantsBigBlueBlog.net for SportsBlog.

I’m a huge football fan and I love doing NFL art.

Odell Beckham, Jr #13 is my first creation.

Odell Beckham, Jr #13, Watercolor, 9 x 12

Happily, Mr. Beckham, himself liked his painting!


Next victim is rookie Weston Richburg.


You can view my gallery of football art here... Football Art

Be sure to check out my Giants blog if you are a fan! :)  

GiantsBigBlueBlog.net

Stay tuned! You get to see them in their new uniforms!

Chillin' Squirrel Watercolor

Chillin' Squirrel
Watercolor, 8 x 19
Available
$99

Chilly Squirrel is now Chllin' Squirrel.   This is the same squirrel that posed for Chilly Squirrel. He's enjoying the sun on the deck railing and stuffing himself with seeds and peanuts.  I painted this live. He's a very cooperative little squirrel! Peanuts will do that.

Watercolor, 8 x10, $99

Drop me an email if you would to take this little guy home!

Deborah@DeborahBollman.com

Chilly Squirrel
Watercolor
Sold

Work in Progress- Taking Flight

Last week; I completed my latest painting.. a falcon.  I get a lot of requests for information on my process so I took photos of this one. )I'm toying around with doing some videos in the future.) So I took photos of this one through the various stages.

1. The sketch-  After taping off a sheet of 12 x 18 Aches Cold Press paper, I use my nice mechanical pencil to lay out the basic sketch. No too much detail. This helps me conserve my whites. 

Step 1

2. Working very quickly a lay down wash using Cobalt, Permanent Alizarin Crimson and Ultramarine Blue. I work wet on wet and on an angled board at this stage. I use large brushes. My favorites are my Pointed Squirrel Mops my Rekab.gl

Step 2

3.  I'm using a really simple palette. Burnt Sienna, Alizarin Crimson, Cobalt, Ult. Blue, Yellow Ochre and a touch of Payne's Grey. That's it. It gives the painting unity. 

I'm an "all over" painter.  I don't work left to right or top to bottom. I go where my intuition takes me. 

I'm also and impatient painter! I put in my lightest glazes and then like to hit it with some really dark darks pretty quickly.

My basic technique is to wet the area I am working on first with clean water and then I  lightly mix my colors on the palette. Then I drop color into the wet area and let them mix on the paper. The dry edges act as a brake and prevents the color from bleeding out. I, also move the board around letting the water run, which allows the pigment to mingle until I get the effect I'm after.

Step 3

4. Adding some more darks and detail. As you start to add the darks you see the light and form just start to appear.

Step 4

5. Continuing to build up layers and working quickly. The tree branch is a mix of Burnt Sienna and Payne's Grey with some dry bruising for texture.

Step 5

Step 6

Completed Painting
Taking Flight
12 x 18
Watercolor 




I'm quite pleased with this one. It's not tight, it's not perfect but it captures the feeling that I was trying to convey.
If you's like this one to hang on your wall.. click here! 
Taking Flight



I've gone ahead and entered it in the Bold Brush Art Competition. 
Click on over and give it and Like!

Taking Flight- Bold Brush Entry

 Thanks so much!



=

Chilly Squirrel Watercolor

This morning's little attempt. I sketched this little watercolor through my back door. Just too freaking cold for the water not to freeze! Does that count as plein air? I tossed some sunflower seeds out to this chilly little squirrel and I worked quickly to capture him in the beautiful light. Watercolor, 5 x 5.5. If you'd like him to come live with you click on the link!

To Purchase

A Fun Perspective

I have transferred the pencil sketch from the last post…here  to watercolor paper and I am thoroughly enjoying working on this painting. It's such a fun perspective of a really great mare who happens to love Peeps. This is the Peeps face!

WIP #1

First and lightest glaze

WIP 2

Pushing some of the darks and some detail. When I start adding the darks the light just starts to appear out of nowhere!

Beauty in the Storm

These types of paintings are the ones that I love to do the most. It is watercolor at it's best. Painted from my car during a Nor' easter, it has joined the ranks as one of my favorites. Watercolor, 5 x 7.5, on Arches 140 Rough

To Purchase     SOLD

Quick Little Sketches

Having a bit of an icky painting day, finding myself getting bogged down in too much detail. So to loosen up I decided to tape off 5 x6 squares and do some really quick, timed watercolor sketches. Twenty minutes.....that's it. That's all she wrote.. Here's the first one.... now for some chocolate.. and then onto the next...

Horse Work In Progress

     I currently have six paintings going right now It's amazing what feeling inspired will do for you! Three of them are horses and since you have asked here is a Work in Progress of one of them. I won't be divulging the name or final of this boy until it goes to it's new home. 

Step #1

    The sketch. I did several variations on the sketch and I like the composition of this one the best. I'm using Arches 300 lb Hot Press with a very smooth, bright white paper and is probably one of favorites because it is very suited for the way I like to work. This piece measure 14 x 11.

©Deborah Bollman
www.DeborahBollman.com

Step #2  

     Laying down the lightest glazes first and saving the white of the paper.

©Deborah Bollman
www.DeborahBollman.com

Step #3

     Starting to lay in the darks and modeling the musculature. As soon as I start adding some of the darkest darks the light seem to appear from nowhere. 

©Deborah Bollman
www.DeborahBollman.com

 Be sure to follow my blog or sign up for my newsletter for studio updates!

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Holiday Portrait Gift Commissions

     THe holidays are right around the corner! Time to start thinking about commissioning those holiday portraits. I've already have a few spots spots booked! If you are thinking of giving the gift of a horse, dog or NFL football portrait/painting, please, don't hesitate to contact me. The process is super easy to get started! For more info drop me an email at deborah@deborahbollman.com

©DeborahBollman
Luke, Watercolor, SOLD

©Deborah Bollman
Running For Glory, WatercolorAvailable
FASO Bold Brush Top 15%

Have an amazing day!

Deborah

It's Football Season!!

It's that time of year again! NFL Football season! Have a mentioned that I am a HUGE football fan? And have I mentioned that I am even bigger San Francisco Forty Niners Fan?  There is probably nothing I enjoy painting more that the color and action of NFL football. 

I had started this painting of the Forty Niners a while back and got caught up working on commissions so I never got around to completing it.. I took the reference photo for this painting last year at MetLife Stadium in E. Ruthersford NJ when they beat the NY Jets. I love the interaction of the players. Don't you just want to know what these guys are talking about? Who else is a football fan? Favorite team? 

I'm tightening it up, pushing those darks and it should finish up pretty quickly now. It's an odd size...6.5 x 19 but I have a really nice gold frame for it. Watercolor on Arches 300lb, Hot Press.

To see the progression of this painting  can read the previous post on this work in progress by clicking here - Forty Niners WIP

It is an interesting size painting at 6 1/2 x 18 but I really like the size. It is a bit further along than this but I'll save that for the next post. Watercolor on Arches, 300lb Rough Press. 

Be sure to check out my other football painting in my gallery here.. Football Gallery

Seagull Watercolor

Ahhh.... the beach. Nothing like the beach to entice the artist me to hit the brushes then the beach in summer. I am thoroughly entertained by the antics of seagulls at Fire Island and they are quickly becoming a favorite subject! This little fellow (or is it a gal?) posed for his portrait. :) A fun little note... I actually used beach sand to get the effect of sand in the foreground!

This little watercolor was a quick sketch just look to get the idea across without too much detail.  Part of my $99 series of sketches.

Seagull, 9 x 5, Arches 140 RP, SOLD

NY Giants Painting- Work in Progress

I have five paintings that I am currently working on including this rather ambitious watercolor of the NY Giants playing the NY Jets. Guess who won? This measures 14 x 22 and I'm working on 140lb Waterford Saunders Rough Press. My main goal is this piece is too capture the intensity, excitement and movement of thr game. I don't want to get too tight and I'm really just letting the paint do it's thing. 

©Deborah Bollman

In this second image things are starting to throw a shape. I'm finding my darks and establishing my center of interest which will be the player facing the viewer. He's got the ball! As far as technique goes I wet the paper and drop the pigment in and move the board around and then lift out the light spots. Anything goes to achieve the effect I'm after. 

I have more on this on my studio Facebook page. You can check it out at Deborah Bollman Fine Art on Facebook. As always comments welcome! 

©Deborah Bollman

For you football fans I am one of the Official bloggers for the NY Giants for SportsBlog.com at our blogGiantsBigBlueBlog.net so be sure to pop on over to Facebook and like our page and then check out the blog! GiantsBigBlueBlog.net on Facebook

Happy painting!

Deborah

Good Tutors and Good Students -Guest Blogger Charles Sluga

Fetch,-5x7 acrylic on cradled panel- SOLD

 

I am delighted to be able to present guest blogger Australian artist Charles Sluga. Charles is a wonderfully accomplished watercolorist and teacher. So without further ado....

Good Tutors and Good Students

I have been prompted to give my opinion because I conduct a lot of workshops both in Australia and overseas and have been teaching watercolour painting for many years. I have a number of pupils that have attended many of my workshops and continue to do so. Recently these people have been criticised or mocked because they choose to continue to come to my workshops. Mocked by students that seem to change their tutors as often as the wind changes.

So the question is - Should a student go to many different tutors to learn or should they stick to one? I think I have already indicated what I think, but let me expand on this.

Well from my experience and observation over twenty years of teaching I strongly recommend choosing one, but it is conditional. The student must try different classes until they find a tutor that they are happy with. A tutor than has the pupils best interest in mind and will push the student and point them in the right direction for them to discover their own way of expression...kind of like a guiding hand. A tutor that does not let his or her ego get in the way!

I think as a student if you find that your work merely looks like a second rate copy of the tutors work then I would suggest you find another tutor. It is not the tutors job to produce 'parrots" that mimic what they do. It is all about pushing, questioning and getting the students to explore possibilities until they start to discover themselves. If you can find a tutor that can do that then stick with them.

For those of you out there who criticise these students and call them
groupies, fans or try to convince them that they should go to someone
else, then I would say to you..."continue to go to your dozen tutors in
a dozen workshops and continue to produce inferior copies with no self
expression....you have missed the whole point of being an artist and
the journey that it involves".


Having said that, if that is what you want to do...go ahead ....it obviously satisfies some need, but be aware that others may wish to go further and demand more of themselves.

So in summary:
A good tutor:

1. Someone who pushes you to question everything!
2. Someone who does not paint by formula.
3. Someone who will not spoon feed you.
4. Someone who recognises your contribution.
5. Someone who is not there to boost there own ego.
6. Someone who takes there work seriously.
7. Someone who plans lessons well.
8. Someone who will give you time.
9. Someone who believes they are still learning.
10. Someone who doesn't want you to merely be a "parrot"

A good pupil:

1. Someone who will work hard.
2. Someone who will take risks.
3. Someone who will work in between workshops
4. Someone who will ask questions.
5. Someone who will not only be interested in the final result.
6. Someone who is persistent.
7. Someone who is open minded.
8. Someone who is not there to boost their own ego!
9. Someone with a sense of humour.
10. Someone who has a love of Art.

So these are just 10 points I consider important for both tutor and student (there are more!)

In closing I would like to congratulate Sharon...one of these so called "groupies" of mine who entered her first exhibition recently and won the award for best watercolour. The wonderful thing about that is that I had not input or influence over that painting. She did the whole thing on her own and it was her own expression in paint! Well done!
I also congratulate these group of students that do continue to come to my workshops and tours...I am looking forward to continuing the journey with you....you have become not just students but friends! So let us all ignore the comments from others and continue to do what we do best...work together and move forward!


By the way, just to make it clear - I don't mind who people go to! I am not saying it has to be me (because even though I am good :), my style of teaching may not suit everyone ). It is not about me...it is about you...the student!
See you at the next workshop :)
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This article is reproduced with permission.
Copyright 2010 - Charles Sluga

For more on Charles and to view or purchase artwork visit.....
Charles Sluga Website
Charles Sluga Blog

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Deborah O'Sullivan Art
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