Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Old-Nail]

As the wind howled and the rain lashed at my window today, and the radio news told of "the worst rainfall to hit Britain in fifty years" I had to content myself with painting a classic motorcycle rather than riding one!

Here's the little watercolour of an old A10 that I did today.

[Rick]

very nice!!

how do you approach a new painting, do you draft it out faintly in pencil first? work from a photo or from memory? just curious! I've dabbled with drawing and painting but need to stick at it to get any good methinks

Rick
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[Old-Nail]

Hi Rick,

I use different approaches depending on the medium used and the effect I want to achieve.

For example anything that has to appear reasonably accurate (which tends to be any type of technical/machinery) I work from a photograph and as you say pencil in the drawing carefully and faintly.

Throughout the painting I look at the photo for reference, even if it's a black and white picture it gives vital indications of tones and light and shade which must be observed.

Paint application has to be quite controlled given the representational nature, if I were to want a more 'atmospheric' painting I'd use less accurate brush strokes and lend more importance to the play of light.

Then again i sometimes paint scenes completely from the imagination using no reference whatsoever, I'm working on one such painting at the moment so I'll post it here when I'm done... but I do have a strange imagination...which helps!

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Don't ask why I am posting so late, I will explain all tomorow!

How do you paint the detail, like spokes, does water colour not all smudge into thick lines in the water colour paper?

Cheers

Dave

[62rebel]

water colour painting isn't all washes; fine details can be done with straight colour or with ink. i worked in sepia, india, and colour before i gave it up. seems my material isn't commercially viable here in SC.. which is ODD since this is supposed to be a very art-friendly town. and that is a very fine work if i do say so myself. i am very impressed!

[Rick]

I used to use a lightbox that I found at a carboot sale (ex newspaper offices), that was handy for shining an image through to blank paper, to get the initial outline & proportions right. I'd like to have another go sometime, a bit less keyboard tapping wouldn't be a bad thing either

RJ
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[62rebel]

err, ahh, yes... it does seem that "other pursuits" diminish my art production as well.... down to nothing, apparently. drat. my wife scolds me for not drawing and painting anymore....