MAKING AN EXPRESSIVE WATERCOLOR PAINTING

Henry Tanner was a former student of Thomas Eakins and one of America's most talented black artists. Because his paintings did not sell in America, Tanner decided to move to Europe. Settling in Paris, he painted scenes from the Bible, which were well received. After one of his paintings was accepted in the Paris Salon, a highly respected French artist insisted that it be hung in a place of honor. Although better known for his religious pictures, some of Tanner's best works were portraits and outdoor scenes. In these works, he often used low-intensity hues, contrasting light and dark values, and fuzzy shapes. These hues, values, and shapes create a quiet stillness.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

You will use watercolor paint to create your own expressive scene. Your scene will exhibit the same low-intensity hues, contrasting dark and light values, and fuzzy shapes found in Tanner's paintings. Your painting will also express the same quiet stillness.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• Container of water
• Sheet of white paper, 9 × 12 inches (23 × 30 cm)
• Tempera paint in different hues
• Pen and India ink

WHAT YOU WILL DO

1. With water, completely wet the sheet of white paper.
2. Load a medium-pointed brush with a light color paint, and apply this carefully to the damp paper. The area painted might represent a lake or river. Add other areas of light colors to suggest sky and clouds.
3. Use the same technique to add dark shapes to your paper. These could suggest the shoreline, distant rooftops, boats, a bridge, or other objects. Do not worry about details. Concern yourself with creating areas of color with different dark values.
4. While your picture is drying, study it carefully. Use your imagination to identify the general outlines of the different objects.
5. When your painting is dry, use a pen and India ink to outline the objects. Add details.
6. Use white paint to create highlights and additional details.

Evaluating Your Work

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