Watercolor and oil studies in an open studio

Jim Riley · 11-26-2002, 02:00 AM

The following paintings were made at a local college that allows us to use a life drawing classroom in the evening one night each week.

The first is a watercolor detail of a 2 hour painting; second is also a detail of a larger painting completed over several evenings. You can tell that there was not enough time to get very fussy or run the risk of overworking.

The watercolor study:

Jim Riley · 11-26-2002, 02:26 AM

The oil study. (detail)

Enzie Shahmiri · 11-26-2002, 02:43 AM

Jim,

I am in charge of a Rotating Gallery and therefore I have to meet with other artists each month, to select works that are suitable for the space.

Just today I looked at some watercolors and the first thing I noticed was that

Michael Georges · 11-26-2002, 10:47 AM

Jim:

They are wonderful! I love the dominance of color they have and the forms are really spot on. I would love to see more from your sessions!

Jim Riley · 11-26-2002, 10:55 AM

Enzie,

I do the watercolors to keep from getting tight with my rendering as I often do with oil commissions. In many cases I get work because people like the "patchy" style. Had this oil been a commission I would have made a few adjustments but only as I needed to retain likeness and character.

Otherwise watercolors are more spontaneous and happy accidents are usually welcome.

Attached is a detail of the detail.

Enzie Shahmiri · 11-26-2002, 11:32 AM

Thank you for showing us another close up, I really like the way it looks. After taking one watercolor class and purchasing tons of supplies I gave that medium up. Being such a control freak, I could not deal with this medium's free spirit. Therefore I really admire those who can make this medium work for them. My hat goes off to all you water colorists!

Jim Riley · 11-27-2002, 06:47 PM

Enzie,

Under no circumstances should you give up on watercolor. As I have noted elsewhere I am a better oil painter in part because I learned to paint in watercolor. Once you are able to trust your drawing skills you will find that a little courage and confidence will see you through the problems associated with this medium. I tell every class that I have ever taught that the first thing you must realize is that you will fill a lot of trash cans in the learning process. Since the method is one of working from light to dark you will learn to be effective in use of darks. You will also learn that you have to paint with more confidence and directness than you deserve but it eventually works. Watercolor portraits are not for sissies.

Mari DeRuntz · 11-27-2002, 07:22 PM

Jim,

Beautiful open studio work, which is no surprise really because your portfolio here on SOG is beautiful. Like Enzie, I also am inspired by your watercolor, a medium that I used to think of as looking, ironically, "parched."

I am very attracted to a medium where its acceptable to throw away 98% of the work. We should sometimes just go like mad and not be so attached to the consequences.

Chris Saper · 11-28-2002, 06:22 PM

Hi, Jim.

Beautiful on both counts. I especially enjoy seeing the way you have declared so elegantly the planes in the oil portrait. It most defintiely looks like a "Jim Riley", and I expect this is the way your works looks in its early stages.

Philippe De Smedt · 12-30-2002, 03:06 PM

Hello Jim, I'm new here but I must say I like a lot the way you work, nothing overdone, nice harmony, and at least one who dares to show painting is done with a brush. Broad and confident.

Next thing I do is hit your website.