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GH-MoNGo — Rainy Day
Published: 2007-08-18 23:50:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 1925; Favourites: 39; Downloads: 0
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Description
Watercolour on Arches 140 lb. Cold Press Watercolour paper. Original size appx. 9 x 12 inches.When I ran the poll asking which of my San Diego sketches I should make into a watercolour painting, the overwhelming response was for this one. I did the majority of this painting while I was away at Solomon's Island, Maryland.
Here I was going for something mellow, but not depressing. I used earth tone washes as the foundation for the rest of the piece, making sure my colours didn't get too saturated. After that, I built up layers of more earth colours, dropping in some more saturated pigments when needed (mainly in the flesh tones of the dwarf's face). A lot of blotting was needed to keep all the washes from bleeding together and forming soup on the paper.
I know where I made some mistakes, and I'd go back and fix them if I could, but watercolour is a medium where corrections are difficult once the paint has dried on the paper. I also wish I had Aegerine (PG23) so I could have mixed some richer flesh tints. Overall I'm pretty content with how I did, considering the circumstances. (Maybe later I'll upload a photo of my setup while I was working on this piece.)
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Comments: 178
Thanks. I was going for a change of pace for this one, glad it worked out.
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I think it worked very well.
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Wow, you did all this with watercolor? My hat's off to you. I'm so spoiled using digital coloring medium, I often forget the time and effort that painters use to create the same effects. It's a dying medium, I fear, and it's pleasing to see someone using the traditional methods. Especially to such effect--the atmosphere is perfect. I like the texture on the beard--wish I could get my dwarves' beards looking that good!
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Thanks a bunch! I'm really glad you like it!
I wouldn't say traditional media is "dying", but you do see less and less of it nowadays with digital becoming the medium of choice for professionals. There's just something about traditional media that you can't get with digital, no matter how many filters or custom brushes you create; that's the feeling of being in total control of your work, actually seeing the work as you're making it, and not using the tablet (or mouse) as a go-between from the pen to the paper.
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no way 
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This is really cute - you know, in an off-beat kinda way. I like the mood it creates, it's calm but in a more sad way than a happy way, but not sad. I could win an award for my ramblings. But anyway, the point is I like it, and it's going in my 
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Thanks, glad you like it!
If you want to see "ramblings", I should show you a few of mine.
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You think you can outramble me? Wow, you must be a pro
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I have been watching your gallery for a while and I must say, this is your best piece yet!
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Aw! How sweet! I'd never expect to see a dwarf looking so senstive. I'm especially fond of the eyes, they have a lot of expression.
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Thanks!
Yeah, dwarves aren't always rough and tough, they have some emotion behind all those mounds of muscle and body hair!
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Great work, the colouring gives it an old story book feel and a very nice overall mood.
I can't see any rain in the foreground though...
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I didn't want to make him look any blurrier/grainier than he already is, from the texture of the paper, though I definitely see what you're saying.
Thanks.
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That makes sense. Though looking at it again there's no reason there should be rain in the foreground - he appears to be under a tree.
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I really like your use of color here. That sets a great mood.
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Thanks, glad you like it!
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Thanks man, glad you like it!
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sure!!that's a great piece!!
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Not bad, Mongo. I'd recommend some shorter brush strokes along the edge of the beard to give it a hairier look though...right now it's just too smooth.
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Alright.
I was thinking smoothing it out would make it look like there were trickles of water in it. I didn't want to make it look too bushy, though I see where you're coming from.
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Some individual little scraggly tendrils of beard would do just as well if not better at conveying that, I think. Plus, if you darkened a few strands (I know water color is not good for dark shades, but...) as well going through it, like water was dripping down, that'd help too, i think.
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(I know water color is not good for dark shades, but...)
It can be.
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Earthy colours again
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Thanks!
I use earthy colours on everything. I think I would die if I ever ran out of burnt umber or cobalt blue.
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Those are probably my two most commonly used colours too. 
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My pallette is 21 colours and those are the two I use for pretty much everything.
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Very lovely job you did on Rainy Day. Good choice of the earth tones and shading.
I do find this mellow than depressing because I always find the sound and smell of fresh rain relaxing.
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You're welcome.
And a quote for the picture.
"Oh great, now my new vest is going to get ruined..."
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I still think he should have a 6'4" war axe slicing and dicing through the rain!
RAWR!
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I've always been fascinated by dwarves, to be honest. Even in Neverwinter Nights 2 for example, when I was about to go in for the final battle with a guy that was the size of a hill, I have found Khelgar's advice and brash impulsive careless suicidal attitude a constant inspiration. I found myself yelling battle cries like a nutjob at a computer. Yes, I have considered visiting some mental institutions... but I'd probably just yell my way through a wall or something.
Thus, I try to be as insane as a dwarf. You can't say their heart is in the wrong place.
This is why I'd probably be with said war axe in hand screaming "BY THE FIRES OF BARGA GOR, YOU WILL NOT STOP ME!" RAAAAAAAAAAARGH! *slashes rain* *theme song starts* *keeps slashing for 2 days until the rain stops*
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So he'd just start swinging at the raindrops?
He wields a hammer, not an axe. Sorry about the mixup.
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Ever better. Smashing rain drops!
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Well he doesn't seem to be enjoying the rain now too. I have a feeling that dwarves are afraid of water.
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I love the overall feel of the rainy day in this piece, nice nice work.
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Thanks bro, and thanks for the favourite.
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I love the colour scheme and the expression, they fit well together. Great job with the lighting.
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Thanks, and thanks for the favourite.
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