Step 1
“Peaceful Canyon” Lake Powell Watercolor by Roland Lee
Step 2
The first step is to sketch out my drawing on 140 lb. Arches paper which is mounted on incredible art board. I tape off the edges with masking tape.
Step 3
I then begin with a wet-in-wet wash for the sky allowing the pigments to mingle and run together while wet. Sometimes I will tip and turn the paper letting the pigment flow in different directions. It is completed in just a few minutes and allowed to dry with no overglazing.
Step 4
I also use a wet-in-wet watercolor technique for the water and the rocks. After they are dry I can use wet-on-dry overglazes to add color, contrast, and detail.
Step 5
A good way to build up texture on the rocks with watercolor is to splatter with clear water just before the glaze dries. This creates a fun random texture that looks very much like stains on the canyon walls.
Step 6
The rocks and sky are now fairly complete, so I am going to move down into the water area and start the complex series of reflections that are characteristic of Lake Powell. When they are laid in I will add more detail and contrast to the rocks.
Step 7
Now I work on the undulating reflections in the foreground with larger shapes in front and smaller ones as they recede in space. Within those shapes I lay out the bending reflections of the rocks, with their smooth hard edges. All of this is done with a wet-on-dry technique to keep the edges crisp.
Step 8
The finished painting ready for framing. It is going in my upcoming “Canyon Country” one man show at the St. George Art Museum.
