20 Roosters - Beyond the Obvious

I just recently finished a ten week workshop called Beyond the Obvious run by Mike E. Bailey and the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society.  The objective in this workshop is to paint the same still life subject at least 20 times in different ways utilizing the seven elements of design.  We had to paint two paintings a week on full sheet watercolor paper (22"x30") that's a lot of real estate to cover!  

Although we were supposed to do a "boring" still life, I couldn't resist my urge to paint roosters so I "cheated" and created a rooster still life with one of my many ceramic roosters.  The first image is of my original still life setup. 

#2 was an experimental piece painted on a tissue paper that I adhered to a sheet of watercolor paper.

After the first week of class I caught a nasty virus so this one was painted in a hurry just to meet my commitment of two paintings for the week.  Clearly not my best work but an interesting attempt.

This one (#4) was inspired by an online lesson I took on mookas and betweeds.  I spent quite a lot of time with the initial drawing and a fair amount of time with the painting as well.  This is my daughter's favorite and she called dibs on it the moment she saw it.  

For week three I decided to try a collage utilizing magazine images (as well as a little decorative paper.)  

I gessoed the background and then applied watercolor for the background before applying the decorative papers. 

This rooster was painted in gouache (an opaque paint.)  The background is primarily transparent watercolor.

In week four, I opted for the classic landscape style of rooster.  This was done in a looser style than I am accustomed to but I enjoyed painting in this style.

This one developed from an idea that didn't turn out quite like I had imagined so I blotted and glazed until I was satisfied with the outcome. The background design was printed with a stamp I made out of craft foam. 

Breaking out of the box a bit, I did this abstract inspired by the tail feathers.  For some odd reason, several other class members showed painting in the same color scheme this week.

I over designed this one a bit.  I painted the background in more neutralized colors so that it would recede and the subject is painted in purer (but still somewhat neutral) color. 

This was painted because I just needed to do something fun!  The rooster and the background are painted in gouache.  The basket, blades of grass and blue jeans are all transparent watercolor.

I liked my design on this one but the painting technique didn't turn out quite as I had hoped.

This is still one of my favorites.  I painted this one in neutralized colors (various mixes of blue, gold and rose) with the exception of the red and a touch of yellow in the sun.  This was also painting with a looser style, something I am getting more comfortable with. 

I worked a full day and I do mean full on this one.  This one was done because we were assigned to do a white, hue (pure color), and tints (watered down pure color) painting this week.  I used a Krylon gold leafing pen to outline the shapes.  The gold is what really made it work.  It is hard to do anything other than a juvenile piece is this color strategy so I went with it and painted a very whimsical style bird...can't really call this one a rooster.

Another failure, you win some, you lose some.  I had to gesso over the background and try it again but I still was not happy with it.

Finally one I like...this one is painted on gessoed watercolor paper.  I enjoyed working on the gessoed paper, the paint lifts very easily.  I originally painted the sky blue but I was not happy with the color so I just wiped it off and used the more neutral tone which suited this subject better.

An attempt to be somewhat abstract!  

I had planned on doing a takeoff of Klimt's "The Kiss" but took a detour and did a realistic painting instead.  I was going to call this "The Peck" but added the basket of apples and call this "A Bushel and a Peck!"  This took some reworking to get the values dark enough and the shadow added under the fowl really made it work even though there wasn't much shadow in my reference photo.  

I finally broke free of the subject (sort of!)  I thought this one was a flop but the instructor said I was crazy if I didn't frame it...each to his own I guess!  I don't think my rooster likes this one either, he looks like he is in a hurry to get out of this painting!  This was done using the strategy of hues, shades and black.  Black is not a color I am used to using in watercolor.  I don't see much future for me and the color black (except in apparel!)  

 The final rooster #20, yes this is also a rooster, look carefully and you'll see the feathers etc. 

I call this one Chopped Chicken!

Thanks for looking, now I'm off to setup for my next still life series.