Day: June 9, 2018

Art: Two cranes on a pine tree branch

A quick go at two cranes on a pine tree, based on a mural I photographed in China in April 2016:
Reference photo of a painted wall showing two Japanese cranes on a pine tree branch
I chose a sheet of beige Canson paper, used a Pentel black brushpen for the outline and the black feathers of the cranes, and watercolor for the rest. I added white watercolor for highlights on the branch, and a white Posca pen for the cranes’ neck line and beak:

Here is the resulting painting, framed (30×20 cm) and ready to give to Isabelle as a present:
Finished piece framed in white

I made a simpler version in 2019 using ink and gold on a postcard.

Reproduction of Hokusai’s ‘Sparrow & Magnolia’

On the second board I had, I set to reproduce Hokusai’s ‘Sparrow & Magnolia’.

I sketched it rather precisely, a somewhat tedious endeavour given the texture of the layer of white paint:
Side by side are the open book with reference image and the white board on which I drew a precise pencil outline. My pencil and rubber are visible above the book on the table.

Then I started to paint with gouache. Here, the sky and the wood of the magnolia branch:
Board on a wooden table next to a gouache paint tube and brush, an open book. I painted with gouache the sky and the wood of the magnolia branch.

Then, the sparrow in shades of orange and light milky orange:
Wet paint on the sparrow in shades of orange and light milky orange

Purple and red for the dark petals of the magnolia blossoms:
Purple and red gouache paint for the dark petals of the magnolia blossoms. Next to the board is the palette with the paint and the brush I'm using is resting on it.

I added white to my burgundy mix and enhanced the magnolia blossoms. Then used dark and light green for the leaves:
I added white to my burgundy mix to enhanced the magnolia blossoms. Then used dark and light green for the leaves. Paint tubes are visible on the table next to the wooden board I'm painting on.

Then I focused on the sparrow, using blue and white, and black:
The sparrow is now almost fully painted using blue and white, and black

With a Pentel black brushpen, I outlined everything and creating details on the tail of the sparrow, the branch and leaves.
Detail of the painting showing the bird and flowers around it. With a Pentel black brushpen, I outlined everything and created details on the tail of the sparrow, the branch and leaves.

Here is the resulting 20×50 cm framed painting:
Final piece signed and framed

Reproduction of Hokusai’s ‘Cuckoo & Azalea’

Having put a coat of white paint on a couple of tall and narrow wooden boards that were framed and used to represent some ugly and soulless floral arrangements, I set to reproduce Hokusai’s ‘Cuckoo & Azalea’, which I had drawn and colored before (notably using watercolor during Drawvember 2016).

I sketched it rather precisely. We see the texture of the layer of white paint on the wood, as I used a foam paint roller:
Large white wooden board on a table next to gouache paint tubes, a brush and tiny plastic palette. A book is open at the illustration that I use as reference. A precise pencil sketch is visible on the board.

Black gouache for the strong strokes on the cuckoo, shades of blue and white gouache for the sky:
Photo of the part of the board that shows the cuckoo flying downwards which I painted black, and the sky painted in shades of blue over white clouds

Then I painted the bush of azaleas, and used some grey for the shadows on the feathers:
Board with both bird and azalea bush painted. Paint tubes are visible on the wooden table.

Finally, I used a Pentel black brushpen for the bush outline and the details of leaves and flowers:
Azalea bush now finished with outlines in black. Paint tubes are visible on the table.

Resulting 20×50 cm framed painting:
Finished piece framed.

Moebius monolith & blond Narcissus

Both of these Moebius illustrations, that I had seen at the exhibition in Toulon, were done on bristol paper, 82×128 mm, using alcohol ink Brushmarkers and Promarkers.

Sepia ink with nib for the outline of the Moebius bust monolith, and warm grey markers:
Grey ink drawing of a man carrying a bag and wearing a pointed helmet, who stands at the foot of a gigantic monolith in the shape of the bust and face of the artist Moebius.

Uni-ball pin pens (thin and really thin), and coloured alcohol ink markers for the blond Narcissus:
Coloured drawing of a young boy kneeling over water. His reflection is broken by a large ripple.