Acquarelli e Matita - I

8.5"x12" Sketchbook Paper, Matita e Acquarelli
Pari, Grosseto Italia

This sketch, which was my first artwork of 2025, represents my initial attempts at building form with color, instead of line. I began with a simple pencil sketch to capture the general forms and then painted over with my set of Winsor & Newton acquarelli, which I seldom use due to their intensity.

I wanted to do something new and different instead of just staying with the techniques that I had become comfortable with in the past year. I was amazed at how intense the pencil forms appeared, along with the way the watercolor interacted with the paper.

While I was pleased with the general concept, I decided to move on and attempt a general painting without any pencil lines whatsoever, and move on from the soft, textured paper of my sketchbook to the smooth bristol board that I had become accustomed to using for most of my works.

Yours in inspiration,
Michael Weaver