Dear Squid:
You probably suck, but I can't even draw, so what do I know? Maybe you can quit architecture and do watercolors. Maybe not. Here's what really matters – THAT is your library? Can I have that? I promise to decorate it with sucky art, er I mean, your masterpieces. Give me the library and I'll keep your art skills secret.

You need to invest in some supplies. I know you know that but I'm just saying it one more time. Be one with the brush Bob, be one with the brush.

I love learning new things, almost as much as I enjoyed reading about your experience. I found the squid comment to be especially entertaining. I think it looks just fine, for a 3rd attempt, over a 20 year stretch.

Great work on the lily and deciding to broaden your design perspective with a this new skill. It's one of those things we always talk about doing but never sit down and dedicate the required time and attention.

It reminds me of a film we watched in studio back in my first year of school. It was this film about Picasso and his creative process. The main takeaway from it was the need to push your creative limits (even at the scale of a single painting or sketch) – and that sometimes it means completely destroying what you set out to make originally (i.e. the “Holey Moley”). For the life of me I can't remember the name of the film, I'd surely watch it again if I could. Keep on creating.

P.S. your library looks like a kickass space.

Oh wow! Way to go, Bob… my artistic talent has its limits so I love to see when others excel. Very cool!

You have no painting skills? HA! I don't believe it.

A little off subject….that's your library? If you wake up some morning & those cupboard doors are missing, don't look for them at my house. Just saying……

that was a nice attempt until you got tot he background, which you already knew. I would have down a warm brown (not too dark) or a dark blue wash. it's been years since i've watercolored. if you want a wash for the background, try wetting the areas first and then add color. i would practice this method first. Good luck!

First up, Wow, can I have your library please? You can probably have a caption contest via unhappy hipsters for the first photo.

Great job on getting into watercolors after so long. I remember using water to “erase” my mistakes (not that I was any good, but it worked if I caught the mistake early enough).

I actually like the wet background pic. The ily appears to be in certain danger from rocks and mud or something.

Bob, this is very inspirational. Thanks for proving it is never too late to up one's artistic game and learn new stuff. The light in your library is also pretty groovy!

You should see my fingerpainting skills

No, seriously, isn't there a program on the computer that watercolors for you?

Hi Mike,
The Mystery of Picasso. Got it on DVD and watch it every coupple months for inspiration. http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Picasso-Pablo/dp/...
Randy

I almost stuck the paintbrush in my eye at one point – would that count?

wow – a compliment and a criticism at the same time. Too bad that isn't a marketable skill (not unlike being funny, or not quite funny enough – Zing!)

Keep trying!

Thanks Lori, I expect to get better (if I practice that is – which I will).

Do you mean the light quality of the the actual light? The light fixture is an original 1958 Louis Poulsen PH 5 that I have be moving with me from house to house. I love the way it looks and it is rated for a 200 watt light bulb (which if you don't use, barely any light at all comes out, it isn't very eco-friendly). I also have a 1966 Louis Poulsen PH 4/3 that is sitting in a bag in the carport storage room because I don't have anywhere to put it. Sadly, it has been living in that bag for 5 years now…

Thanks for the tip – I am definitely going to try that. I think I am going to amend the piece after I try painting another – just to see the difference between #1 and #2

Thanks Brian – I thought you would like this one (the trying, not necessarily the end product). In this case, the journey IS actually the point of doing this

you may also want to look at watercolor pencils – i love them!

That's an important step. Great library by the way.

Not bad for a first shot, Bob.

I actually watercolored & hand drafted most of my projects in college – no computers until year 4 out of 5! (graduated from ND in May 2008). It's a lot of fun & really rewarding.

Toward the end of my academic years, I actually started doing most of the drafting & 3D modeling in CAD or SketchUp & then printing it on watercolor paper & rendering it. It's a great way to get a quick, artistic rendering of a project.

You can check some of the paintings out here (http://lunchtimesketchbook.wordpress.com/about-...) if you're interested. I'd be happy to explain different techniques or help in any way.

Good luck & stick with it!

Not bad for a first shot, Bob!

I actually did a lot of hand-drafting and watercolor in college – no computers until year 4 out of 5! (graduated in May 2008, so no, I'm not 104 years old!). It was really fun & rewarding.

Toward the end of my college days, I would draft everything in CAD or SketchUp, print it out on watercolor paper, & then paint it. It was a really quick & easy way to get a good, artistic rendering of a project.

If you're interested in seeing some of the work, you can check it out here under the “Portfolio” link – http://lunchtimesketchbook.wordpress.com/about-...

I'd be happy to answer any questions (though I'm certainly not an expert!) about how to do certain techniques or washes.

Thanks Brian,

I went an flipped through your portfolio and my first question is how you got your washes so even on the very first page (the Progretto Di Riqualificicazione….).

You can respond directly back to bob@lifeofanarchitect.com if you want. Cheers!

Painting an even, flat wash is one of the best things to learn right off the bat. To practice, maybe the following exercise would help. In school, we called this technique “pulling a bead”:

1. First, take your watercolor pad & stick something underneath the top of it to prop it up a few inches or so.
2. Mix a small cup (Dixie cups work well if you have some laying around) of any color
3. Draw a square or rectangle on the page – note, for drafting purposes, I typically press hard enough to create a tiny groove for the paint to go into & not bleed outside the drawing area. For this, it probably doesn't matter …
4. Get some watercolor on your brush (I use a rounded brush w/a pointed tip for pretty much everything, though for bigger washes, you'll want a bigger brush)
5. Make line of paint across the top of the rectangle that you drew previously, making sure that you have a fairly generous amount of paint on the page so that it pools or “beads” a little at the bottom.
6. Keep dipping your brush in the watercolor paint cup & “pulling” or working your way down the page, making sure to keep a bead of watercolor the whole way.
7. Once you get to the bottom, you'll probably have a big pool of paint you don't need. To remove it, tap the brush on a paper towel & then dab the excess paint off & you should be great!

So after writing all that, I reread it & realized how hard it was to understand. Then I searched for it on youtube & found a 2 minute video that explains the EXACT technique! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J32do5s5tfs

I think this interweb thing may catch on ….

Give that 1966 light to me, Squid, and no-one gets hurt. Damn your 200 watt bulb and its spawn. You are turning into a bag lady, which is strange, as you are (as far as one can trust the avatar) a man!
I'm going outside now to wait for the light to arrive!

you did a lot better than my method, which is to drink a lot of wine and try to slap some paint on a page.

Nice work, Bob. Especially considering the discount-bin supplies!

Seriously, keep at it. Watercolor does make for a great architectural rendering.

I started a beginners' watercolor blog a while back (as a beginning blogger exercise).
I should let you take it over!

http://tiny.cc/0n3kn

I remember taking a graduate (yes he said graduate) course in watercolor, couldn't believe I was getting like 8 credits to play with colors and water! Anyways, I digest.

Another 'practice technique' to offer, try ink wash. Use the same ink you would for a tech pen and ony use that and water on water color paper. This affords you the opportunity to practice bruch control and the study of shade/shadow without focusing on color….and it gives a cool monochrome look!

While not a watercolorist, I think it would help if you grow out an afro like Bob Ross.

If after practice you still think you suck then take a picture and use the watercolor filter in photoshop!

Hey good start keep it up.
When I started watercolour painting one of the best things that I did was invest in good quality paints, brushes and high quality acid free watercolour paper. Having good materials makes a lot of difference and it makes it a pleasure to paint.

I started working on my washes and realized that's why there are tubes of watercolor paints. I'll put a follow up on here before too long.

I love watercolor – I learned from a crusty old polish artist in Warsaw during a study abroad in Architecture school although nothing I ever did could compare with anything someone FROM Poland did in their sleep! One trick I did learn, however, was that although you cannot completely “erase” a mistake, you can lessen its impact. If you clean your brush and use clean water, you can dilute the painted area quite a bit (provided it is still wet itself). Also, enough cannot be said for using high quality paints and brushes. Our Polish instructors advocated the use of brushes sold at asian import stores used for Chinese writing….good luck!

Thanks Ashley – I think I will look into get some of the watercolor paint that comes in the tubes and see what happens.

Now that was funny! Thanks for the share. Practice, practice, and practice some more. I would date each piece so you can go back and see your improvements.