Reference Photo
Sketch
In Progress Photos
Final
1. What watercolor techniques proved to be effective in your painting? How and Why?
I found the salt technique to be very helpful in creating the texture that I wanted on the castle. It worked really well to create the worn effect that I wanted it to show. i also found the gradient technique to be very helpful in showing the perspective of the astle and making it appear more 3D. FInally, I used a lot of layering on the sky and in the water to make it appear more textured and less flat.
2. How important was using transparent layers in your painting?
The transparent layers were very important for my painting because I used it them in almost every element of the painting. It allowed me to easily build up the colors in the sky, the water, on the mountains, and in the castle. Without them, the effect I wanted couldn't have been achieved giving a more textured look.
3. Explain how your composition was successful? Did you utilize all the elements of art and principles of design? Explain.
I think that for my skill level, I was successful in this project. I like how I was able to create the 3D look to the castle, create layers in the water, sky, and. mountains, and make everything flow together. I think I could've used more techniques in the sky and the water to make them look more realistic, but other than that I think I utilized techniques I had learned well and I think my composition was successful.
4. Was color choice an important factor in the overall success of the painting? Why?
I think that color choice was very important here, especially in the sky and in the water. They were both very similar shades of blue but I didn't want them to look the same so color choice was very important in making the two distinguishable. I think the colors I picked factored in to how everything looked at the end and I was pleased with it.
5. Describe your craftsmanship.
Overall, I was happy with my craftsmanship. I think I could've spent a little more time doing details on the mountains to make them more realistic because I spent most of my time trying to perfect the castle. I think I also should've spent a little more time trying to perfect the sky and the water because although I worked to make them look different, they still turned out looking pretty similar to each other which I didn't want to happen.
6. If you were able to do something different what would it be and why?
If I were to do something different if I did this over again, I would look more at the different sizes and proportions of all the elements of the piece. I. made the castle a bit too large which threw off the spacing and proportions of the other elements in my piece. I think if I made the castle a bit smaller, it would've looked more realistic and like my reference photo.
7. Explain to me what you have learned about watercolor and how it has improved or discouraged your development in art.
I have definitely developed and improved since the last time I used watercolor in Art 1. The last time I used watercolor, I wasn't able to get the colors to move like I wanted and often, my paper would ball up and get unusable. I learned new techniques to prevent this and I also learned a bunch of new techniques in general such as salt, transparent layering, etc. that were very helpful in creating my piece.
I found the salt technique to be very helpful in creating the texture that I wanted on the castle. It worked really well to create the worn effect that I wanted it to show. i also found the gradient technique to be very helpful in showing the perspective of the astle and making it appear more 3D. FInally, I used a lot of layering on the sky and in the water to make it appear more textured and less flat.
2. How important was using transparent layers in your painting?
The transparent layers were very important for my painting because I used it them in almost every element of the painting. It allowed me to easily build up the colors in the sky, the water, on the mountains, and in the castle. Without them, the effect I wanted couldn't have been achieved giving a more textured look.
3. Explain how your composition was successful? Did you utilize all the elements of art and principles of design? Explain.
I think that for my skill level, I was successful in this project. I like how I was able to create the 3D look to the castle, create layers in the water, sky, and. mountains, and make everything flow together. I think I could've used more techniques in the sky and the water to make them look more realistic, but other than that I think I utilized techniques I had learned well and I think my composition was successful.
4. Was color choice an important factor in the overall success of the painting? Why?
I think that color choice was very important here, especially in the sky and in the water. They were both very similar shades of blue but I didn't want them to look the same so color choice was very important in making the two distinguishable. I think the colors I picked factored in to how everything looked at the end and I was pleased with it.
5. Describe your craftsmanship.
Overall, I was happy with my craftsmanship. I think I could've spent a little more time doing details on the mountains to make them more realistic because I spent most of my time trying to perfect the castle. I think I also should've spent a little more time trying to perfect the sky and the water because although I worked to make them look different, they still turned out looking pretty similar to each other which I didn't want to happen.
6. If you were able to do something different what would it be and why?
If I were to do something different if I did this over again, I would look more at the different sizes and proportions of all the elements of the piece. I. made the castle a bit too large which threw off the spacing and proportions of the other elements in my piece. I think if I made the castle a bit smaller, it would've looked more realistic and like my reference photo.
7. Explain to me what you have learned about watercolor and how it has improved or discouraged your development in art.
I have definitely developed and improved since the last time I used watercolor in Art 1. The last time I used watercolor, I wasn't able to get the colors to move like I wanted and often, my paper would ball up and get unusable. I learned new techniques to prevent this and I also learned a bunch of new techniques in general such as salt, transparent layering, etc. that were very helpful in creating my piece.