After making four color studies that I’m satisfied with, I’ve been experimenting with a painting method I’ve come up with. To get a good range of values along with good colors, I’m planning to draw my piece with charcoal and color over it with watercolor. I’ve been experimenting with this method in my sketchbook with spheres and figures.

In the last photo, I applied a base wash of Light Red watercolor, drew the lay-in copying two Bridgman drawings, designed the core shadows, painted charcoal powder into the background and shadow areas, then developed the shadow and light areas with black and white charcoals. I spray fixed the drawing, and will paint skin tones over it soon to see how a variety of color temperatures and chromas will look on this.

The figure sketches and anatomy studies are going well. I feel that my draftsmanship and anatomical knowledge has improved a lot. Here are a few of my studies and sketches.