Painting Demonstration 1
This lovely plein aire sketch was painted on a dirt road next to a salt marsh.I love the wonderfully intense shadows cast on roads. They have nuances in color tones, changing according to where they are. The almost tropical feel of palm trees and bright light is felt even in the early spring.
I used a tiny bit of wax crayon to reserve highlights before I even started. After I painted some of the pale yellow highlights, I used a bit more clear wax crayon to reserve those.
To begin, I'm just blocking in some colors. I know the rough paper will show what colors I painted first very clearly if I use a drier brush. So it's critical to think through from the first wash to the last one.
Of course, this is a sketch, so things will change!
Disclaimer: Jennifer Branch Gallery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I receive a small rebate for your entire order (starting at 4%) if you choose to purchase through Amazon. Most items can be bought multiple places and I highly recommend local art stores if you have one! Any other recommendation links I receive no compensation for.
These referrals help me support this website, and I thank you for any purchase you make through them. I will never recommend a product I have not used frequently and believe is the best tool for the purpose!
Painting Demonstration 2
I'm starting to scribble in a bit more texture now. I don't have any strong darks yet, but I have reserved quite a few highlights with my wax resist sticks
The palmetto ended up being one of my major focuses for the painting. Later in the trip, I painted quite a few of them. I can't get over their basketweave pattern on the trunk and overlapping shadows on the fronds.
Painting Demonstration 3
I'm now doing the underpainting for the Spanish moss in greenish purples. Just a touch of nickel azo yellow and viridian, then a lot of cobalt violet.
Artist Tips
You want a lot of white paper left in this painting for those sharp tropical contrasts.
Painting Demonstration 4
A few more touches in the foreground in jagged strokes and the first wash is finished.
Painting Demonstration 5
Some more darks and the fun of the basketweave on the palmetto palm. I want the Spanish moss framing the road.
Painting Demonstration 6
Some more very strong darks start adding the contrast I need. The bright greens frame the golden light at the end of the path.
One tool I use all the time sketching is Neocolor I Water-Resistant Wax Pastels, 10 colors
I warn you the brightness of the pigments will be slightly dulled if you paint a wash over the pastel. You still can't regain paper. These pastels are an interesting texture for those highlights and sometimes you want the slightly chalky dull texture. For example, a reflection.
I love using these for sketching since it makes painting easier!
Painting Demonstration 7
Even more strong darks push the right background further back and make the highlights brighter. I add some bright greens with azo yellow and cobalt teal.
Final Watercolor Sketch!
I had so much fun going on a sketching trip with my boys. It was wonderful they got to see a different place, experience a bit of it, sketch a little, and bike like crazy. I really love going places with them now they are old enough to really do things!
That isn't really about the painting - but it does mean I can sketch on location and worry less about constant crises!
I'm planning to develop this into a full planned painting in a few months. It's a great subject and a little more planning will make it a great painting! One of you suggested I show the difference between a sketch and a painting. I'd say the biggest difference is time and planning. This sketch took about 20 minutes. A painting will take about 2 hours.
The most important part of planning a painting is the sketch.
I hope this inspires you to paint a road near you!
Related Art Lessons
