Page 84 - International Artist2 110

On the Ball, watercolour, 31 x 51 cm (12 x 20")
I live near Windsor, home to the world famous Guards Polo Club, and I often go there during the polo season to watch the skilled riders and
athletic little ponies in the excitement of the matches. They have inspired many artworks, including this one where my concentration was
centred on the colours of sunshine glancing across the horses’ flanks.

action-based pieces, I choose oil or acrylic,
and for atmospheric work where ghosts
lurk in the shadows, I choose pencil with
charcoal, but I find I can achieve more
nuanced results with watercolour.
A detailed drawing is my essential starting
point for any artwork. The process of doing
it allows me to explore and think in three
dimensions, to “feel” the subjects in my head
as I work. It’s where I plan my strategy and
visualize the finished artwork. I take many
reference photos, but I rarely will work
directly from just one. If I’ve taken a set of
photos for a portrait or for general reference,
I’ll spend a long time considering what
I’ve caught on camera before printing a few
that have something about them that I like.
I may start with thumbnail sketches to help
decide on composition, and choosing one
of these I’ll work it up into a larger sketch Feel the Thunder, Aquarel pencil, 26 x 31 cm, (10 x 12")
weaving in elements from various photos, I love the atmospheric images and ghosts that lurk in the shadows of monotone drawings, and I work in
and other things from imagination. I trace this style a lot. This one is inspired by the action at Guards Polo Club.
parts I like, and on the same piece of tracing
paper I rework areas that need improvement.

Watercolour Demonstration 83

KristineNason.indd 83 6/22/16 11:15 AM