New watercolor and prints ...

Harstine Isl. Oyster

I've painted this watercolor to look very similar to the Harstine Isl. Crab painting I did some time ago. At first I wasn't sure how I liked this. I think it was because it was so similar to the crab painting ... But now that its finished and prints made, I'm very happy with it. The crab paintings (prints) seem to be very popular at the local farmers market and have had some customers ask for the same but with an oyster on it. Many people around here raise their own oysters so it seem fitting to the area. I have cards, matted 8" x 10" 's, and 11" x 14" 's that will be for sale next Saturday.

Do I seem a little crabby lately ...

SOLD

Have you noticed that crabs seem to be on my mind lately?

This is another dungeness crab that I've tried to capture in a loose manner. My work ususally is so tight, that I need to make a concience effort to loosen-up. The support for this crab is regular brown craft paper, upon which I've used charcoal to draw the shape of a crab, then using pastel to create the middle and light values... then back to charcoal to make the shape of the legs - then a touch of brown conte' here and there.

What I learned with this painting/drawing:

• The craft paper was not very forgiving. When I wanted to blend the colors, the paper just held on to the pastel ... such as the white on top of the crab back. I was going to blend the white lines ... it just sat there, not blending.
• Craft paper has a great brown color that I find attractive, so I may try pre-coloring some watercolor paper to paint on.
• I'm not sure I will ever become comfortable with the dry chalky feel of pastel and charcoal.
• I love the look of charcoal.
• I would like to become better at using pastel ... even if it is messy ... I have some artist friends who really are masters of this medium and I so envy the look they can achieve.