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| Oil and watercolor work areas |
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| Matting and Framing Space |
My Studio is a nice space. There is room for all I need to do. I have areas set aside for watercolor, oils, matting and framing, storage and even up to 6 students when I clean things up. I'm pretty lucky.
My watercolors are painted almost exclusively on Arches 140lb. cold pressed paper that I buy by the roll, but there are many good papers available. I've found that a good quality paper is one of the biggest determinants of a good painting. It takes the paint better, and will stand up to repeated washes - which I do a lot of. I cut the paper down to a size I think the image deserves, stretch it, and do my best. My brushes are mostly inexpensive synthetic ones. They are usually stiffer, and I like the snap they have. I can control the paint better with more control in my brush. My paints are a mixture of Winsor &Newton, Grumbacher, Da Vinci, or anything else that I may find.
The same can be said for my oil paintings. I like all different brands of paints and synthetic brushes. I haven't painted with oils as much as watercolors, so, I'm still figuring out the differences, but I found I like painting on a stiff surface, like a board, instead of canvas.
The difference between my watercolors and oils is my watercolors come out the way they do. I don't try to have a style - its just the way they come out. On the other hand, I want my oils to be looser and more spontaneous, with a lot of texture. That is something I try for. It is a nice break to go back and forth between the two mediums.
I love the days when I know I can spend most of the day painting. I usually start at about 10am when the light is right, and after my boys are at school, I've answered e-mails, and I've checked the surf and decided not to go. With all three boys in school, I know I can paint until 3 before I have to do anything else. I love putting in a good book on CD and just painting away. I've gotten so I can't paint without listening to something good. And I find that if I really like the book I'm listening to, my paintings will turn out better. During the winter, the light is usually done around 3pm, but in the summer, I can paint until 6pm sometimes with good natural light.
On days when the surf is good, or I need inspiration, I'll sacrifice painting time to get some exercise and hopefully some good photo references. I mainly work from photos, because I find I like to capture a moment in order to paint it. I like scenery and lineup shots, but I love paintings that tell a story. Something that captures an event. And those moments happen quickly. So I get them on film to paint from later. I love someone walking to the surf, or waxing their board, or just watching a good set roll through. Those are my favorite paintings. And hopefully they ring true to other surfers, as they recognize what is usually an ordinary event - only made to look cool.
I love the days when I know I can spend most of the day painting. I usually start at about 10am when the light is right, and after my boys are at school, I've answered e-mails, and I've checked the surf and decided not to go. With all three boys in school, I know I can paint until 3 before I have to do anything else. I love putting in a good book on CD and just painting away. I've gotten so I can't paint without listening to something good. And I find that if I really like the book I'm listening to, my paintings will turn out better. During the winter, the light is usually done around 3pm, but in the summer, I can paint until 6pm sometimes with good natural light.
On days when the surf is good, or I need inspiration, I'll sacrifice painting time to get some exercise and hopefully some good photo references. I mainly work from photos, because I find I like to capture a moment in order to paint it. I like scenery and lineup shots, but I love paintings that tell a story. Something that captures an event. And those moments happen quickly. So I get them on film to paint from later. I love someone walking to the surf, or waxing their board, or just watching a good set roll through. Those are my favorite paintings. And hopefully they ring true to other surfers, as they recognize what is usually an ordinary event - only made to look cool.
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