Sunbathing Rocks

[Balaji]

This is a 8.5" x 5.5" watercolour sketch, on 250 gsm Canson watercolour paper, based on a demo by Andre Kano (whose work I very much admire). I have always been terribly dissatisfied with the way I paint rocks. I have now decided to do something about it and this is the start. I also plan to revisit this sketch after some time to improve it.

 

[Donna T]

Nice rocks - and water - Balaji. I find rocks difficult to do too, especially in watercolor where hard edges can be lost. Mine end up looking like potatoes. I looked up Andre Kano’s work and he does rocks very well.

 

[Balaji]

Thank you Donna.
I am also glad that you looked up Andre Kano's work.

 

[john]

Good rocks. Yes I find them difficult to do also which is frustrating because it seems like they should be easy.

 

[Artyczar]

Yes, rocks are hard! I think it has to do with correct light and shadow. I'm no good at that.

Very good Balaji!

 

[Balaji]

John, Ayin...Thank you.

I agree with both of you. Rocks look as though they should be easy to paint, but so far, I have struggled to get them right. I hope to be better at it in a month or two. In fact, I plan to revisit this painting in a week or two and see if I can improve it.

 

[PaintBoss]

I like it and the rocks. I struggle with painting rocks too.

 

[Triduana]

I'm another one who struggles with rocks. The trouble is they are in all my favourite landscapes. Yours look good to me!

 

[Balaji]

Thank you Christine and Kay.
It seems we are all members of a very large "struggling with rocks" club.

 

[snoball]

Nice rocks, Balaji. Rocks can be as difficult as we make them. They are like clouds, no two alike so they can be any shape.

 

[Balaji]

Thank you Margaret.
I agree that rocks are like clouds. I feel that it is not too difficult to do passable rocks and clouds, but I would like to paint them really well. Therefore, after clouds I intend to focus on trees and clouds.

 

[JennieJo]

Thank you Donna.
I am also glad that you looked up Andre Kano's work.

I've just looked him up too. Thanks for giving the link. Always good to find a new artist.

 

[Balaji]

I'm glad you found the link useful JennieJo.

 

[JennieJo]

I'm glad you found the link useful JennieJo.

I did. I'll be channelling the works later today.

 

[Terri]

Great job, Balaji! I agree about rocks being challenging. You did great here!

 

[Balaji]

Thank you Terri.

 

[Balaji]

When I first posted this sketch I had mentioned that I would revisit it after a week or two and see if I could improve it. One way to have done that would be to paint it again from scratch. This is something that I may do at some later date. But for now, I did some minimal tweaks a couple of days ago (about ten days after I had originally made the sketch) and this is the result.

 

[KreativeK]

those are very convincing rocks! The added dark values cement the shapes as they should.

 

[Balaji]

Thank you Kay. I thought that this was an improvement, and I am glad that you think so too.