How to Make Quick Watercolour Sketch Part5

This week, I'll chat over body language.

Gestures carry messages. Pantomime is a sophisticated art. My belief, "Smile,"
....and "Money" is a universal language...;-) ?!?

Now, you are a detective to nab body language and break codes! DON'T draw all what you can see. Capture "what impresses you most" on paper.

Step1. Whole or Part of Body?
Define which part of body speaks.
Hands? Feet? Torso? What else? A whole body?a) Part of Body
If so, practice drawing specific parts only, is a good idea!
Probably, hands are very "chatty," apart from a face.
Hands tell gender, age, occupation, emotion etc, etc.

So, I often sketch hands with a face. In the left quick drawing, hands are main. In the second one, a face was a subordinate subject added later, even though the model was for life drawing.

b) Whole Body
If a whole body conveys a message, need to capture a movement. In Part One, I talked of how to catch movement. Enjoy quick drawings in 30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes etc. Make lots of stick figures to record movements in a moment.

Step 2. Emphasize ValueMake a drama. Before forgetting the impression, quickly pin it down for drawing. Exaggerate value--is effective for watercolor painting. 2 ways colour settings : same color or several colors.a) Several Colour Use
Mixing Colours for Dark&Contrast.Opposite colors make a strong contrast in a picture. So, I often use opposite or opposite-like colors for darks.

b) One colour
Simple and often convinces viewers. Depends on a colour choice, a single colour often makes very attractive and sophisticated works.

Technical advice. If you use only one color, just put it again on a dark area. A second stroke darkens there and save time.

Step 3. Celebrate your work.
Have fun with your model, friends, family!
If your model gets upset, if your model is very happy---
both mean your work hit spots! A very famous British watercolorist said, "I lose friends...when I make their portraits." Please tell your model, "Oh, you do not know National Art Gallery will collect my work...in the future," with a biiiiiig wink.

Be brave.
In my experience, people love quickies and turn a blind eye to my sketches. This gentleman and I were on a train. He was having very late lunch after a looong day... but my sketch brought him and all the people a smile in the cart. I really appreciated his big heart to enjoy my work. Yey!!

Now, did you enjoy becoming a detective of body language and will you try it? I sincerely hope so.

From a next week, I'll chat over how to sketch adults (male, female),children and old people. If you'd like to know something more or other stuff, please leave a comment.

But I'm getting busy with work and preparation for annual exhibitions. If I just upload sketches, oh, darrrrling, please do not forsake me!

If my tiny posts give you some hints and joy of art, I would be so happy. Let us say, "Cheers!"
In addition, while I was sketching a beer tap, anyone wanted to look at it in a pub. The only shame was my courteous decline of an offered beer... Otherwise, another non-existing tap should have been added on that picture?!
Friends, happy painting ... and happy drinking!!
Thanks millions for your support and interest in this blog.

How to Make Quick Watercolour Sketch Part5