River Boat House

[ZenDruid]

My first real experiment with alcohol markers in a 6x9 inch sketchbook. Referenced from my original photo, below, taken during a boat trip in 2010 on the Hudson River, New York.

I started with a light blue Prismacolor Col-Erase pencil to get the basic elements laid down. Then I began inking in the details lightly with a Pigma Micron 005 followed by heavier lines with a 03 and brush. The coloring is a combination of Berol Prismacolor pencils and Rose Art pencils. But more importantly a new set of Brea Reese alcohol markers. I found out it's easy to get heavy-handed with those. For example, the black shadows were done with a blue-grey marker which went very dark, almost black. I toned them down some with a white pencil. I'm not crazy about how the water in the foreground came out, that's a practice for another day. Obviously a rough sketch, no attempt at accuracy. C&C welcome.

This is a neat house, and boat, and riverfront location, I wouldn't mind a couple of weeks there in the summer.

 

[Terri]

Wow! For a first attempt with these markers, you should be pretty pumped! I think it looks just fine. That's a lot of detail work in there, and it's very well done.

I agree that the house itself is pretty fantastic. I bet they chug up and down the Hudson all the time on that boat. More power to 'em!

Hope to see more like this from you!

 

[ZenDruid]

Wow! For a first attempt with these markers, you should be pretty pumped! I think it looks just fine. That's a lot of detail work in there, and it's very well done.

I agree that the house itself is pretty fantastic. I bet they chug up and down the Hudson all the time on that boat. More power to 'em!

Hope to see more like this from you!

Thanks Terri! Since you asked, and I know you didn't, I got this picture of the boat on the return trip...

 

[Artyczar]

Very well done Zen! I wish I could control those markers like that. I tried them and failed. This is really great! I can do the Micron pens, but not the alcohol ones. I love the style of this. The trees are especially appealing! I hope you do more.

 

[ZenDruid]

Thank you Ayin! I'm glad you like the style, I call it Lopsided Architecture School. I will be trying more of it. I appreciate your comment about the trees, I was afraid they were becoming a hot mess.

 

[Enyaw]

a serious departure from what you have shown previously .. sounds like you are having fun. I think that's really cool for a first. Careful, you could get good at this and then you need a bigger wallet.

 

[ZenDruid]

a serious departure from what you have shown previously .. sounds like you are having fun. I think that's really cool for a first. Careful, you could get good at this and then you need a bigger wallet.

Thanks Wayne! Yes, I started here doing acrylic abstracts (for want of a better description) I've done 18 so far. But those are my magic mystery tour, I worry about them and they can sit on the easel for weeks. I needed to break out of that rut so I started drawing again a year ago. It's been liberating, I did this drawing in two days, when I had a free moment. I've done other sketches really fast, in a "mad minute", freely drawing on my subconscious for reference. That can get scary

 

[Joy]

Donald, very well rendered structure. I never tried alcohol markers, but they worked beautifully in your hands.

 

[Donna T]

I'd be really happy if I could to something like this on my hundredth try, Zen, and think you will be doing more of this. You chose such a difficult subject - and you nailed it! I don't know anything about markers - can you layer them to blend at all?

 

[laika]

Cool! It's so fresh and lively, but you did it from an old photo. Very nice!

I know nothing about alcohol markers, but I sure like the look of this Can't wait for the Zorro and Ghostman alcohol ink drawings that surely will follow

 

[ZenDruid]

I don't know anything about markers - can you layer them to blend at all?

Thank you Donna. I think if I put down light colors first, darker colors could be blended over them. I need to experiment with that. The set I bought has 24 colors, the usual primaries, complimentaries, and a few pastels. I'll probably buy another set of light shades. What I do like is they dry quickly, so I can mix them up with pen and pencil.

 

[ZenDruid]

Can't wait for the Zorro and Ghostman alcohol ink drawings that surely will follow

Thanks Lamar. Those guys went on vacation after Halloween. I'm expecting them back with new tales of absurd situations.

 

[ZenDruid]

Thank you Terri, Ayin, Wayne, Joy, Donna, Lamar, QueenBee, Moscatel and Arnie - Thanks for your kind words and encouragement, I think I'll be doing more of this style of work

 

[CaliAnn]

Beautifully done Zen! I agree with Ayin, those trees came out beautiful.

 

[ZenDruid]

Beautifully done Zen! I agree with Ayin, those trees came out beautiful.

Thank you Cali. Sometimes things we're never sure about come out better than expected.

 

[Artyczar]

Thank you Ayin! I'm glad you like the style, I call it Lopsided Architecture School. I will be trying more of it. I appreciate your comment about the trees, I was afraid they were becoming a hot mess.

Not a hot mess at all, but I know the feeling. Sometimes, ya gotta walk away from it for a day and come back with fresh eyes to see what a genius you are!

 

[Jo Castillo]

This is fun and a lovely experiment. Not easy to use as the markers don't blend. You did great!

 

[ZenDruid]

This is fun and a lovely experiment. Not easy to use as the markers don't blend. You did great!

Thank you Jo! No they don't blend like pencils, I plan to experiment more.

 

[snoball]

Very good, especially for a new media. Do keep experimenting.

 

[ZenDruid]

Very good, especially for a new media. Do keep experimenting.

Thank you Snoball!