It might be getting colder here in the Garden State, but I'm more of a summer person. I'll be more festive after this piece!
Growing up in New Jersey, I have never been far from the coast. Some of my best childhood memories are from trips to the beach and boardwalk. Many people might think of Snooki when they think of Jersey's beaches, but for me, the ocean has always been more of a mystical place. It is a great source of inspiration. Poseidon's Daughter is a piece that stems from these coastal roots.
Poseidon's daughter has magic, but it's not as fun as you might think. Helping her father maintain the delicate balance of the ocean is lonely work. One day, she meets a young photographer who reminds her how to have fun. Despite being from two different worlds, they discover a kindred spirit in each other.
This piece started out really loose. I had a specific color palette in mind, so it was important to use it to full advantage with the right composition.
The drawing is my favorite step! Everything done at this stage has immediate results, and changes can be made quickly. Adding in those swirls and curls is fun, too.
At this stage, the priority was to make sure the water looked translucent. This meant adding darks in a way that would create the illusion of depth. I was so jazzed to get into color by this point – but value should never be rushed. This is what I think of as the "ink" stage.
Color! Pinks and oranges, with some sea green tints for added dimension. This feels like a "watercolor" stage, on top of a graphite drawing. The warmest hues are used for emphasis.
Details are the finicky part! As things shape up, changes can be made that weren't part of the initial drawing. For example, I gave the young photographer a backpack to carry his things in. But there was still something missing.
One wave to close off the space, one snazzy pair of glasses, and a few final tweaks later. Thanks for reading! See the GIF below, as well as a time-lapse video of the painting from start to finish.