Patterns and Texture

Freestyle Fish Try this interesting watercolor and ink project where you can experiment with the effects of letting colors bleed. Ages 8 and up.

Supplies:

1. Watercolor Paper
2. Pencil with eraser
3. Photo Reference (see below)
4. Set of watercolor paints and brushes
5. Can of water
6. Fine line black marker

Directions:

1. Set out your watercolor paper and pencil. Draw "lines of action" for each of the fish that you see in the photo reference. Draw VERY LIGHTLY!
2. Draw the shapes of the fish around the lines of action.
3. Now add the fins to the fish. Erase the lines of action.
4. Draw the shapes of the two rocks at the bottom left.
5. Using a paintbrush and some clean water, fill in one of the fish body shapes. Then "drop in" dabs of various colors, letting them bleed together. Repeat with all of the fish bodies.
6. Using different color combinations, fill in the rocks the same way. Allow to dry completely.
7. Once dry, carefully paint in the background black, leaving the fins white.
8. Using a fine line black marker, draw oval eyes on the fish. Look at the photo reference!
9. Now draw stripes on all of the fins, going in various directions. These patterns will add movement to the picture.

Photo Reference:

Courtesy of www.morguefile.com.

© Karine Bauch 2007. All rights reserved.

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