Watercolour portraits

To attempt portraits in watercolour is not for the faint hearted! Watercolour is a notoriously difficult medium to work in, and is, in comparison to other media, fairly unforgiving. Whatever technique one is using, whether it be wet into wet or a more considered approach, careful planning is required if your painting is to be a success.

The above sketch was done in about one hour using a wet into wet technique. No preliminary drawing was done. Although initially it looked chaotic to the group I was demonstrating to, I was, even at the earliest stage, planning and allowing for my highlights to be preserved. If things go wrong there is still the possibility of lifting out with a sponge or tissue.

The same approach was used in this sketch. Having established the position of the features I started to build up the depth of tone. At various points I dried the painting and went in with a dry brush technique, as in the eyes.

The above was a preliminary sketch I did for a more finished portrait. Again this was completed in less than an hour.

“Mary.”     A portrait in watercolours.

This more finished portrait took considerably longer, requiring as it did layer upon layer of transparent glazes to achieve the detail I wanted.

I find watercolour the most amazing medium and one which offers a luminosity and delicacy unrivalled by others.

In a later blog I will demonstrate a watercolour portrait from start to finish and will describe the materials, techniques and colour mixes I use.

John Glover’s Open Studio

For the last three weekends, my studio has been open to the public as part of Suffolk Open Studios. It was a busy but fascinating time.

I had lots of visitors, from friends to students, to others who had either seen my work in the preview exhibition at Blackthorpe Barn or spotted my work in the brochure.

It is an ideal opportunity for people to see the “artist in action” and to have a chat about art, materials, and techniques.

Apart from showing “work in progress”, I like to mount an exhibition of a variety of work. This  I feel is much more interesting for any visitor.

As can be seen from the photographs, my main interest lies in portraits, figurative painting and landscapes. For these, I work in all manner of mediums, from oils to acrylics, gouache, watercolour, pencil , charcoal and pastel.

The comments and discussions ranged far and wide from specific paintings to general chat about materials, techniques, and the classes I run.

From the artist’s point of view the feedback is invaluable and it is always fascinating to see which particular paintings prove to be the most popular.

But the “holiday” is over and it is time to get back to the solitary business of being a working artist!

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