Tuesday Tips and Tricks:
Often in urban sketching we focus on the architecture or landmarks we encounter to tell the story of our surroundings. There are times though, when we add people to the scene, even when they’re not the focus. They add an element that can make it easier for the viewer to connect with our visual story. People give scale, energy, life, and an invitation into the scene. When you need or want an extra spark in your landscape or cityscape including people can be the trick you need. In this post I give you tips for using watercolor to add figures to your work.
Carrots and Rectangles
There are many approaches for quickly adding figures to watercolors. I use a combination of two different methods – carrots and rectangles. Both ways employ similar mind sets.
- Think simple.
- Think shape
- Think gesture
The Carrot:
1. Start with simple carrot shape 2. Add a head 3. Add a little gesture
and shadow
and shadow
The result from just four strokes, a simple basic figure!
Repeat the process and add a little embellishment.
Now try playing with just slight changes to the gesture and size of the carrot shapes. Add more, create a crowd or a parade!
The Rectangle:
1. Paint a rectangle 2. Add two strokes for legs 3. Two strokes for arms 4. One for a
head
head
Tah Dah! A person!
Urban Sketching
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| Saturday Morning at the Green City Market, Chicago |
Using these simple methods as a starting point you can add the attitude, personality, the
character of a place, through it's people.
Character Builders:
character of a place, through it's people.
Character Builders:
- Paint a group of carrots and rectangles together.
- Let a few overlap and let the paint mingle.
- What happens when the head stroke touches the shoulder line? When it doesn’t?
- Experiment, add line to emphasize or embellish some of the shapes.
- Try adding just a little detail.
As always, have fun!
