It May Not Look Like Much, But...

Crown Memorial Beach Bathhouse
8 x 16" watercolor
in Hand Book Journal

Funny how the muse circles back now and then and reminds us of something important. 

I'd forgotten all about Richard Thorn's video demo that I watched almost three years ago. At the time, I thought it might be a game-changer to use his technique of a very strong pencil drawing (as opposed to the light lines that many artists use) for the framework of a loose watercolor painting. I was all excited about a painting I did using that technique. 

And then I forgot all about the technique. Until this week. 

This painting in my sketchbook may not look like much, but it helped me re-see the magic of laying down a strong pencil drawing and then using a freer, looser approach to the painting. My heart sang as I painted this, and it sings again every time I look at the painting. (You'll just have to trust me that this one looks better in person than on the screen.)

Since this one I've done two stand-alone paintings that I don't like as well. But that's to be expected. This time, I won't forget about this technique. 

Thank you, Richard Thorn.