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!



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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!

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