In The Studio: 2 Watercolors from Thursday Class

Here are my 2 demonstrations from my watercolor class this last Thursday.  The horse and cattle painting was a lesson on drawing the complicated shapes as a contour line that is defining the entire outside edge of the combines shapes.  You were not supposed to think of the individual shapes, cow, cow, horse, rider but think in one big shape.  Then I wanted the class to just focus on the shadows which gave the contour lines definition and identification.  Detail of rider and the focus of the painting, notice how I left out all of the details of the image.This demonstration is about creating a center of interest and having everything support that idea, well that is basically every lesson or really should be.  Most paintings fall apart because the painter has given no thought to where they want the viewer to look and then fail to make it happen.  Notice how all of the major lines and directions in this painting lead to the same general area.  I think it feels right to me.Detail of the boat and the area in the back.  Notice the three layers of tree, which give the painting depth.