The Beginning of The Vintage Tractor in Watercolor
My subject matter for the current watercolor painting is different than recent paintings. The vintage tractor has sun-faded paint, rust, dents, and wonderful textures! Add all that color and it's practically begging me to put it on paper. It's a big change, not quite the same as a landscape or flowers. While the flower has its own tiny details to conquer, there is more wiggle room for the artist. If the petal moves a little to the left, it's just fine. If the stem is a little longer, no problem. I can always add a few more leaves. Well, I'm not giving myself an easy challenge here but I still can't resist. That -and my husband is really, really excited about watching this one come together.
What about subjects with more mechanics, pieces and parts? You see, if it's a subject matter that others know well and proportions are off, there's a problem. This is something I've faced before with subject matter like vintage automobiles. Now, the current watercolor painting in progress, a vintage tractor is the same. The sketch used is the foundation of the painting. Careful planning is necessary for the sketch to be completed. Are you curious about how that drawing begins?
How does an artist plan out the detailed sketch?
Are there tricks that help make it more successful?
That's what I'd like to share today!
First, I'll show the original photograph, where this all began. On a Saturday morning, my husband and I were checking out all the great finds available at Timeless Tom's. We both enjoy the hunt for something we must have...it doesn't matter that we weren't really looking for it. I've got a love of searching through all the variety of items he brings from farm and estate auctions. The tractor didn't come home with us. With my camera, I was able to snap a few photos of this one-of-a-kind homemade tractor.
Once the photo is imported into photo editing software, I can make any needed changes for using it as an art reference photo. That might include cropping, adjusting the fill light and highlights, and increasing the color saturation. I save that version. Then, I create a version with some more noticeable filters applied. This version has more artistic license. It's my rough draft guide to where my creative juices want to take it in the final painting. Let me say, if you really like that version, I could order the photograph as a print on fine art papers or canvas. Let me know. We'll talk.
