After the sketch I made last weekend with the charcoal and sanguine crayon, I wondered how those would work when combined with watercolor. Today’s Zoom with June was the perfect opportunity to give it a try.

I opted to use birch trees as my subject since they work with the colors of the charcoal and sanguine crayon. After I sketched out the trees, I began blocking in with the blue and the warm tones of watercolor paint. As a final step I used Paine’s grey for the darker parts of the trunks. It reminds me of my reflected light series.

Since I had some time left after finishing the landscape, I decided to sketch a portrait in this same style. I was more heavily handed with the sanguine crayon this time so I could play with its properties when brushed with water. It spreads a bit, but where it is dark on the page it resists the watercolor paint. As I was painting him I was afraid I got the shadow side of his face too dark, but once I stepped back from it the contrast looked pretty good.

I think I’ll make some more in this style- do you have any suggestions for me?