I start with on-site sketches in pencil, value studies (black and white), and plein air (outdoor painting) sketches whenever possible to properly study a subject. Then I do small color studies to be sure the color is communicating the feel of the place, person or object. I don’t want my watercolors to look like oil painting lite, so I focus on pushing those unique watercolor properties of wet-in-wet and scratching out to allow watercolor to show off its merits. Watercolor is essentially water plus pigment so it shines when used to paint watery elements such as clouds, seascapes, marine landscapes, lakes and ocean. When you use water to paint water you see the elements working in tandem to capture that ethereal, transparent light.
