![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kP1ndiEvd5QL8nhFTdZ0nrcYbskfwnKlssKUjfgnbxo2_-62ics4C0nIp1hyb-_CqSAwIIq_8QBRO3i3-EyM3xNV4Y0yjfSNjqWQXopwHo3PPdc_co_QTuLTyTXWkP_P2qvbxpY3NEZe6wU25pBXBWyEDXdrazv71_nIgXfBUucvlBO-Dc1bvw7o/w640-h454/Ellie%20and%20Aves,%20final.jpeg)
Several years ago one of my granddaughters visited New York City with a friend, and sent back a few photographs. I was intrigued by the idea of doing a quick (well, semi-quick) watercolor sketch of the two teenagers in sunglasses. After I used my MacBook's photo app to crop out the surroundings, I simply enlarged the image and concentrated on capturing their sunlit smiles.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimurJqOLmbTYZap5i3DVdi9BSuLg-TqHDm7lWA2r5NdwXC8Q5YnqD9vVFVuCqSo1gyKv9sgkaWdGuUZpE2IW3CsT8Fa0OgVv-SDjzr-LUItAfnpou4WXhXT86wrpyIvYF-n5tIjFay527TnaVi5F5Pzgnh6gE3HMh2HE31gJlWy-Jhxin1lq90fv5/w400-h294/Ellie%20and%20Aves%20Step%201.jpeg) |
Step 1 |
I sketched in a few details in pencil, but mostly wanted to rely on my eye and a limited palette of transparent colors to build the shapes and emphasize light and shadow. I tried to remember to stop every now and then to capture the progress of my painting –– always a challenge for me once I get started! For the first two steps, I worked exclusively with my favorite #12 Cosmo-Top Spin round brush, as it holds a good point. Colors used in the first two steps: Holbein's Burnt Sienna and Mineral Violet; and Winsor & Newton's French Ultramarine, Burnt Umber, and Sepia. By step 3, and in the final version, I added a few other colors, to help develop shading, add details to the sunglasses, and add the jackets and the background. I also switched to a smaller brush –– a Robert Simmons #4 white sable (synthetic). Colors added in these final steps: Winsor & Newton's Permanent Rose, Cobalt Blue, Raw Umber, Green Gold, and Winsor Blue GS; also Holbein's Verditer Blue.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1Yqur3elsCAb7nQpm2C2YWwyJClMLJSwNTOJBGv_toQt34DSEY6zPbFV68oFU2Xfucng5S4-wjd8DJsUa0Ul0_9lCLokHcvniI5JrJMhsXDJM_0vNPXoK9OkIzbUGdIvgzv4S-NBuwV2ABduPhY6MPkM_mZVHJB_G9-CVeQl4h_43Zv0dOFo7ST7/w640-h445/Ellie%20and%20Aves%20Step%202.jpeg) |
Step 2
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQO3tifYxgA8r9vrLNPTacCvQBFjHcPnSFSS23lvoXc96Z9DwfRQBgBjqxpOKrtbOUZkmU-f0BcudH9lJ_447aR1QcdkaLdwfshS-SfCcmuB-1dbs_qkFm5Q6O4iTXGtBcT62TsU3B0ip722oepC1oxfoDgm76OwFPSTJbYTsAy4H2XVVpCo0psyP/w640-h444/P1070911.jpeg) |
Step 3 |
Here is the original photo, taken in Washington Park in Manhattan, and a cropped view that I brought up on my laptop screen to refer to while painting.
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