Stephanie Bower


Stephanie Bower | Architectural Illustration: www.stephaniebower.com | Sketching Workshops: www.stephaniebower.com | Sketches: on Instagram at @stephanieabower & http://www.flickr.com/photos/83075812@N07/ | Urban Sketchers Blog Correspondent www.urbansketchers.org | Signature member of the Northwest Watercolor Society

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Medieval in the Marais

I've wanted to try this technique for a long time. 

My husband's great grandfather was the head of the Croatian Railroads.  He was also an amazing watercolorist, and he painted on the back side of the train schedules which were printed on a nice, fairly heavy ochre colored paper.  All the Franko's, both in the US and in Croatia, have some of his paintings, and they are beautiful.  He uses an opaque white paint to bring out the lights on the dark paper.  Admittedly, I covet his paintings on the walls of my family members!

In this sketch, I sat on-site and did the pencil drawing (it was getting hot out!), then I brought the sketch back to the studio, painted the entire background in yellow ochre.  Once dry, I used grays and some chinese white to bring out lights and darks.

A medieval house in the Marais, Paris. June 7.
Traditional look, but I like it--seems to fit the architecture.

5 comments:

  1. Just beautiful Stephanie! I love all of them. I'm so glad the sun came out, it has come out here too. We happily look at your blog together at my office, and send good wishes to you. -Marilyn

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    1. Hi Marilyn--that is sooooo wonderful! Thank you for even being interested. Good wishes to you too!
      S

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  2. This is really beautiful. What an interesting story about your husband's family. It is a tribute to paint in a similar manner.

    I have very much been enjoying your posts from Paris and environs.
    --Kate B

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    1. Hi Kate, that is so very nice of you--thank you for being interested in this and for taking the time to send such a nice message across the US and the Atlantic! Hope you are well...happy sketching!
      S

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