My drawing process

In this first blog post I will show you my process of making ink and watercolor drawings.

In traditional painting, painters in al sort of media from oil paint to tempera and watercolor would often work in thin layers of paint (glazing). The first layer (imprimitura) would often be painted in a single color that would lay the foundation for the rest of the painting. In some cases this would be a neutral or brown tint or something more saturated like red. This first color glaze is important because it influences the color underneath.

This is what I do too but in my watercolor or acrylic inks. After my inked line drawing is finished I will often use a subdued blue to lay the foundation for my colors. The shadows will be darker blue and the highlights are kept white. Blue is especially effective in landscapes, because the shadows of landscapes are cool colors due to the reflection of the blue sky. red or purple are interesting choices in portraits.

Here's an example of this technique in my work. Finishing touches will often be made with colored pencil: