Inktober 2023: prompts 8-14
All of the paintings were done in watercolour, and some of them used pens (both permanent and water-reactive) to add more detail.
Prompt 8 - Gear
The idea behind this piece was of the entrance to a clockmaking workshop where the design sign above the door had been inspired by the internal workings of one.
Prompt 9 - Dig
[Image ID] Watercolour of the corner of an archaeological dig’s trench in a hilly landscape. [description end]
I’ve watched a lot of documentaries about archaeological digs over the years, and thought depicting a trench and post holes would be an interesting way to interpret the prompt. I used both watercolour and water soluble fineliners on this piece as I needed wider tonal variation from the paint but also needed the thin detailed lines from the pens. Blending the water soluble ink out with water helped with creating the illusion of treecover on the far hills.
Prompt 10 – Dune
I was inspired by some of the dune-edged beaches I’ve visited in the past and chose to depict it fairly literally.
Prompt 11 – Wander
This prompt proved troublesome at first as it is quite similar to the earlier ‘path’ prompt, but I eventually decided on this gateway as one would ‘wander through’ to see what lies beyond it. This piece isn’t actually done with watercolour and instead uses a fineliner pen with water soluble ink that, when the lines are wet with a paintbrush, bleeds outwards in this lovely red tone.
I based this painting on a photo I took several years ago of a ruined gateway in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Prompt 12 – Coral
This prompt had two obvious avenues of interpretation – either the colour or the animal. I actually ended up using both, as I painted actual coral including a few coral coloured ones. I kept the shapes of the corals very rough, but by outlining them with the brown brush pen their shapes are still clearly understandable.
Prompt 13 - Rise
Hot air balloons rise, so this seemed a reasonable choice of interpretation. I depicted a more Victorian style balloon, with a steampunk element to the design, as that is my personal preference.
Prompt 14 - Castle
[Image ID] Watercolour of a multi-layered castle. [description end]
This piece uses a mixtures of watercolour paints and the fineliner technique mentioned in ‘wander’. I kept the colours grey and muted as I wanted to give the impression of an imposing castle seen on a misty day.
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Watercolour paints – Windsor & Newton Cotman range
Watercolour paper – Daler Rowney Aquafine in textured (cold pressed) or smooth (hot pressed) depending on the painting.
Brush pens – Tombow Fudenosuke in black and brown
Fineliners – Steadler Triplus (colours 77 & 9)
Brushes – DaVinchi Cosmotop-Spin (red handle) round brushes in sizes 14, 8, & 5
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Prompt 8 - Gear
[Image ID] Watercolour of a Gothic, wooden door. Above the door is a wooden plinth with 4 gears on it. [description end]
The idea behind this piece was of the entrance to a clockmaking workshop where the design sign above the door had been inspired by the internal workings of one.
Prompt 9 - Dig
I’ve watched a lot of documentaries about archaeological digs over the years, and thought depicting a trench and post holes would be an interesting way to interpret the prompt. I used both watercolour and water soluble fineliners on this piece as I needed wider tonal variation from the paint but also needed the thin detailed lines from the pens. Blending the water soluble ink out with water helped with creating the illusion of treecover on the far hills.
Prompt 10 – Dune
[Image ID] Watercolour of sand dunes with the sea beyond. [description end]
I was inspired by some of the dune-edged beaches I’ve visited in the past and chose to depict it fairly literally.
Prompt 11 – Wander
[Image ID] An arched gateway in a ruined wall. [description end]
This prompt proved troublesome at first as it is quite similar to the earlier ‘path’ prompt, but I eventually decided on this gateway as one would ‘wander through’ to see what lies beyond it. This piece isn’t actually done with watercolour and instead uses a fineliner pen with water soluble ink that, when the lines are wet with a paintbrush, bleeds outwards in this lovely red tone.
I based this painting on a photo I took several years ago of a ruined gateway in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Prompt 12 – Coral
[Image ID] Watercolour of different coloured coral growing on a reef.[description end]
This prompt had two obvious avenues of interpretation – either the colour or the animal. I actually ended up using both, as I painted actual coral including a few coral coloured ones. I kept the shapes of the corals very rough, but by outlining them with the brown brush pen their shapes are still clearly understandable.
Prompt 13 - Rise
[Image ID]
Watercolour of a steampunk hot air balloon on a green background. [description end]
Watercolour of a steampunk hot air balloon on a green background. [description end]
Hot air balloons rise, so this seemed a reasonable choice of interpretation. I depicted a more Victorian style balloon, with a steampunk element to the design, as that is my personal preference.
Prompt 14 - Castle
[Image ID] Watercolour of a multi-layered castle. [description end]
This piece uses a mixtures of watercolour paints and the fineliner technique mentioned in ‘wander’. I kept the colours grey and muted as I wanted to give the impression of an imposing castle seen on a misty day.
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Watercolour paints – Windsor & Newton Cotman range
Watercolour paper – Daler Rowney Aquafine in textured (cold pressed) or smooth (hot pressed) depending on the painting.
Brush pens – Tombow Fudenosuke in black and brown
Fineliners – Steadler Triplus (colours 77 & 9)
Brushes – DaVinchi Cosmotop-Spin (red handle) round brushes in sizes 14, 8, & 5
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Artwork ©Dragonsflyatsunset 2023, all rights reserved.