I decided to give watercolor a try. But since I haven't really done anything in the medium since grade school, I did a couple of experiments. First was this old rusty turnout tredle.
That worked well enough that I didn't even bother finishing it before moving on to the next experiment.
This one taught me that I need to move up to larger paper. So I did a goat.
Which told me I needed better tools so I went shopping before I moved on. This is the result of that shopping trip.
I decided to focus on locomotives that are in museums or excursion service. By going this route I can count on a lot of source material from the net, books and other sources that one old grainy photo often can't provide.On the drawing board:
So. Is it art?BeckyPS: these take me about a week from start to finish.
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Becky, you certainly have done well!
Johnny
You are pulling our legs that you haven't touched water color since grade school?
There is a community on the Wisconsin Door Peninsula that works in water color, and from what I have seen and been told, it is a non-trivial medium to work in. It is "subtractive" of the white color of the canvas rather than "additive" as with oil or acrylic -- for one thing, you cannot correct mistakes by painting over.
I would judge the work highly proficient from the standpoint of water-color technique. One thing that separates professionals from amateurs with natural talent is technical study of the subject matter. Artists who depict the human form study anatomy and practice depicting models in art studios.
The work may benefit from technical study of the mechanical functioning of different parts of the locomotive, especially the valve gear that is not well understood, even by most train enthusiasts. The late Charles Dockstader
http://www.billp.org/Dockstader/ValveGear.html
has animations of the different types of valve gear offering insight not available from still photographs.
Is it art? Is a given set of written words poetry? Depends on what it communicates to people. I get a sense of the ponderous nature of those machines.
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
Penny TrainsSo. Is it art?
Yes.
How much will you charge for copies of 765 when done? I want at least one. Then keep going! Personally I'd vote for some views of 5550...
NICE!
- Erik
Beautiful work! Accurate proportions are the hardest part, and you nailed it.
I'd pay for some of your work. Great job, keep it up!
Very nice! I'm impressed...
Oh, it's art all right! It's fantastic!
Paul MilenkovicYou are pulling our legs that you haven't touched water color since grade school?
No really! I focused mostly on using colored pencils. It was only just recently that when I decided to do railroad work I knew that it would take too long to use opaque pencil. So I decided to experiment with the watercolor variety where I could have the control of color placement that I got from pencils but the practically instantaneous blending you get by simply adding water. The pigment in the pencil is the same as dry watercolor pans, just wrapped in wood. Scribble a little color on, then make it go where you want it to with the brush. I use tube paints too, but my primary base mix is just 3 colors applied with pencils.
Here's an example of what I did with ordinary colored pencils about 12 years ago. It's also my avatar.
I'm not a purist by the way. I have no problem using white paint!
Pretty darn good, if you ask me. I'm guessing self-portrait anime' style?
Yep. I'd hoped to do graphic novels.
Becky,
I like your watercolor paintings, particularly the first one showing the switch stand. That unfinished nature gives a pleasing sense of economy. Also, the wet into wet blending is quite apparent, and is a natural expression of watercolor.
Penny Trains Yep. I'd hoped to do graphic novels.
Trains are fine... but how about some mecha?
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmannTrains are fine... but how about some mecha?
Here's a "think tank" I did using Metasequoia a few years back:
Oh, so THAT'S what "mecha" is! The only "mecha" we've ever heard of here at the Fortress Firelock is Mecha-Godzilla, but we don't care about him! "Big G" kicks his butt every go-around!
Think Gundam, Transformers, Robotech or even that "loader" Ripley used in Aliens.
I remember Ms. Ripley's loader all right, Sigourney Weaver straps herself in, goes clanking up to the Alien, and roars out that unforgettable line...
"GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU B****!!!"
Penny Trains Think Gundam, Transformers, Robotech or even that "loader" Ripley used in Aliens.
remote-controlled locomotives...
"Shinji! Get in the GP38!"
Oh.....OK.....center the target and pull the switch....
I mustn’t run away! I mustn’t run away! I mustn’t run away!
Guess I better go to work before more of my nerdom shows.
I knew you'd get the reference!
Penny Trains I decided to give watercolor a try. But since I haven't really done anything in the medium since grade school, I did a couple of experiments. First was this old rusty turnout tredle. That worked well enough that I didn't even bother finishing it before moving on to the next experiment. This one taught me that I need to move up to larger paper. So I did a goat. Which told me I needed better tools so I went shopping before I moved on. This is the result of that shopping trip. I decided to focus on locomotives that are in museums or excursion service. By going this route I can count on a lot of source material from the net, books and other sources that one old grainy photo often can't provide.On the drawing board: So. Is it art?BeckyPS: these take me about a week from start to finish.
Hello Becky,is it art?it is for me,lovely job,perspective right, all of the wheels on the railtop, it will do for me!
I do hope i will see a finished 765? i live in the UK but 765 is one of my favourite steam locos.
Keep up the good work.
Don.
gwyn68I do hope i will see a finished 765?
You will! It's moving along slowly though, lots of stuff going on around here. Nothing bad!
Deggesty Becky, you certainly have done well!
Becky[Penny Trains]; Early on in this Thread, Johnny, made the above comment, which has been echoed by many other Posters... I would only agree with them and their comments. I am no art expert, but I know what I 'like' and enjoy. You're work is right there! Congrats!
We are pretty fortunate on these Forums to have several peple who excell in their photography...Now to add your original art work to that; we are very,very fortunate. Look forward to seeing more of your Posts.
Thanks to all for the kind words!
Just a quick peek.
Looks like 765's giving us a little grin on the bottom of the smokebox door.
If I was a popular as 765 is I'd be grinning all the time too!
Well that's incomplete shading for you!
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