In an attempt to learn more about how watercolor paint works, I did a quick sketch of one of my favorite places from a photo. I allowed myself 15 minutes to complete the image. The goal here was to work as fast as possible without detail. This was difficult for me. I am more comfortable creating art that is more literal or realistic in nature. Splashing down something quick and being able to let it go is not my favorite thing. I guess once I am more comfortable with the medium and can predict more accurately what will happen with the paint, I will be happier with my results.

Quick Watercolor Sketch of the River Banks at Jekyll Island.
The illustration was done in a pocket sized Moleskine Watercolor Journal. The small size limited the detail I was able to produce, which was helpful to my goal of working quickly. I can’t say enough good things about the Moleskine Watercolor Journal. It is a great tool for quick renderings and studies and is perfect for creating simple work when you don’t want to commit to a large scale project.
I would love to hear from those of you who have had a lot of experience with watercolor. Any hints, tips or suggestions are most welcome.