Family Outing

This painting was done in approximately 45 minutes.  The adage, 'the fewest strokes wins' is not only good for golf but for watercolor.  You simplify or edit the scene to only essentials and proceed to painting in as few brush strokes as possible.  There is some direct glazing done, which is using a wet transparent color over a wet color.  It gives a more painterly impression.  Careful attention is paid to value change which occurs with every plane change.  By using a gradated wash of the ocean going from dark in the distance to lighter in the foreground, it brings the eye to the focal point which are the figures.  All the whites are connected up rather than isolated.  It is always good to practice these rules.