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River in Zion National Park- Watercolor Painting Techniques by Roland
Lee |
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As you know I spend a lot of time in Zion National Park.
Fall might just be my favorite time to hang out there. Out west, autumn
comes later than other parts of the country. You can still see scenes
like this one in Zion Canyon clear into late November, when the leaves
finally turn brown and drop. Until then, though, brilliant yellow and
gold leaves of Cottonwood trees create a glorious backdrop for the meandering
Virgin River which looks too peaceful to have carved this place. Overlooking
the scene is the big Watchman mountain on the left.
Because of the majesty in this landscape, I decided to paint it very
large. I am using a sheet of 26 x 40 Arches cold press paper. It's tough
to work this large because its difficult to reach across the surface
while the paper is flat. However, because of the liquid nature of watercolor
it is hard to paint vertically on an easel without everything running
off the bottom. So I use a combination of methods depending on which
part of the painting I'm working on.
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1. I begin this painting by painting the sky using a wet-in-wet technique.
You can compare this step with the finished painting at right as you follow
the step by step painting process.
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2. While the sky dries I lay in the basic form of the river using the
same wet-in-wet method. I use the side of a 1-inch aquarelle brush to
"scumble" in the yellow foliage, trying to create a bit of texture
as I go.
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3. Notice how quickly I start to shape the elements working from broad
loose passages of lighter pigments to darker values as the painting
progresses. It is hard to tell here because everything is so light,
but I am preserving some lights in very special areas.
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4. Now things start to take shape as I model the cliffs and place some
of my darks in the foliage. From here on out I will be applying successively
darker glazes to create a rich contrast of values.
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5. Notice how I use negative painting to shape the foliage in the middle
ground and a few of the rocks in the foreground. Now I move back and
forth from distance to foreground.
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6. As the painting nears completion, I finish up the foreground rock
details, the bushes on the lower left and add realism to the water by
indicating ripples and current. Can you identify the differences between
the painting at this stage and the finished painting nex to it?
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The finished painting. How do you like it?
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"Virgin Beauty in Zion"
by Roland Lee
Medium: Transparent Watercolor
Image: 24" x 39"
Frame: 34" x 49"
Price framed: $6500
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over 40 more painting demonstrations by Roland Lee
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