Advancing with Watercolor: "Cherry Blossom, NYC" Graded Washes

THE IMAGE

This image has been on my “to do” list for a while. The image captures that brief moment when the cherry blossom is blooming in NYC. There is a softness to the spring light and a warmth that permeates the morning air. The atmosphere is quintessential springtime and the subtle shades of yellow and pink wind and waft through the tall trees. Thee is the presence of nature against the city - in this image they work together to give us that precious moment of spring.

THE PROJECT

The time of year is so precious - but how an we catch the lightness of the full cherry trees with a sense of the soft light of spring. We will start with an exercise in graded washes and then apply some of this to out image. I rely more on subtle changes to catch the soft atmosphere rather than dramatic color changes to catch the soft light

THE DRILL

In the drill this week we will practice an extension of of our wet into wet technique to capture the subtle shifts of color in this scene. The graded wash is a staple of watercolor painting especially in creating atmosphere and bouncing light

THE DRAWING / DESIGN

The design in this drawing is built around creating depth in the image. Several strategies are used - we use these in all types of painting and are of particular use in landscape painting. The first is the road or path. The path can be used to carry the viewer back into the painting. Our eyes naturally “follows“ and path - in todays work the path zigs and zags into the distance - creating depth. Placing “like” shapes a different stages in the painting. The figures in this painting reside at different depths of the image - growing smaller as the move into the painting - this is a way to create depth. We do the same with the cherry trees.

Another way to create depth is through the use of a graded wash. The road is a good example - the road is lighter towards the back - crowing darker gradually as in nears the from of the painting. This is also true of the trees and figures. This “gradual” darkening creates the send of depth as well.

THE TECHNIQUE

As we start to formulate a watercolor plan - we consider working in stages. - Where will we use wet technique and where will we use dry technique?. Establishing the lighter “spring “ colors in a wet in wet fashion seems most natural so lets start there. We also establish with gradual transition in the path using a graded wash. After letting the painting dry we can start to paint with dry layers gradually and subtly defining the shadows buildings and cherry trees.

THE CHALLENGES

1 - On of the big challenges is in our ability to perceive the similarities of colors in the tress. Once we ”see” them - The lighter values of pink , yellow, and green can be placed in a wet into wet fashion next to each other in a wet into wet fashion with the knowledge that we will make them into trees in the next stage.

2 - Getting a good drawing - look at cherry trees - they have a unique shape that we can use. A full cherry tree looks like a cloud in many ways. Another challenge returns this week in creating the road and letting it wind through the scene - last but perhaps most difficult are the figures. Making their proportions feel natural is also difficult

THE SKILL

Important skills are built in these studies..
1 - being able to see the similarity in objects as opposed to differences 2 - Watercolor technique - especially wet into wet
3 - We build our drawing skills as well