I drive by these painted ladies several times a week, always thinking I
should give them a go. The complicated details and the colors were a
challenge for me to do loosely and not too "architectural." I wanted
them to look like a watercolor, not a building drawing.
I stationed myself across the street. I started with guidelines in pencil, and let go of a
two point perspective and let it be as if all the buildings were eye level as they go back.
If you enlarge the drawing you can see that I drew quite a few guidelines before
I began inking. I was concerned primarily with giving a place for the details of the
houses to sit, and this lack of paying attention got me into a bit of trouble, below.
I admit I assumed that all the houses were the same except in color. A LESSON IN LOOKING. They are of two flipped designs, which I saw clearly as I began drawing details but too late.
Another surprise which I caught while drawing the details was the bannister posts. Due to the sun and shadows at first they appeared to be turned posts,
which I noted. However, as I was drawing the first corners
with the columns behind the angled bannister, I noticed that the posts
may have been replaced, as they were not turned. Then as I went a
bit further I noticed they appeared board-flat on all the corners. I
walked over to look closely. What appeared turned posts from afar were
actually posts cut on one side only to give the illusion of turned
posts, below -- a cost-saving measure, I am sure.
I mostly inked on site, then added watercolor in the studio. I had to mix many colors. I've been asked about adding watercolors to a good drawing and "ruining" it -- but this is my interest. I can draw in several styles, and from any perspective: worm's eye, bird's eye, exploding axonometrics, you name it! I was the go-to girl in the office for complicated inked drawings!
However, I am interested in learning watercolors, and so I do "ruin" the
occasional drawing. This one is a bit blotchy, and as I am finding
styles and trying not to paint like a coloring book. I choose
when to let white paper show, and in both of these cases I was not
always spot on. I have learned not to try to go back in and correct --
I'll do this again sometime soon! I am mostly happy with the outcome.
Drawn in an Strathmore Mixed Media journal with Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pens and Daniel Smith, Holbein and Sennelier watercolors.
