A few months ago I was working in my sketchbook and started working on a drawing of a Steampunk'd-out sea horse. I really liked it, but didn't go anywhere with it at that point. Then, a few weeks ago at 212, our graphic design guy Keith showed us the postcard he made for Saline Picture Frame's Circle of Art - an annual art auction that benefits Food Gatherers of Ann Arbor. The theme for this year's art auction is Steampunk! I knew what I had to do...
I took my sea horse sketch, did some tweaks and changes, and made it into a small watercolor painting. It was going along well - I liked the colors, felt pretty confident about it, and while there were a few things I thought about changing, was pleased with how it was coming along. My final touch was to do the inking on it, and it went well...until I shook my koh-i-noor ink well pen too close to the painting and disaster struck:
The ink splotched everywhere (including on me), and all over the lower portion of the painting. I couldn't believe it! I tried to do a pattern on the tail that would cover the ink or incorporate it somehow, but failed miserably.
At that point I realized that I could sit there and brood about my messed up painting, or just Keep Moving Forward and start over. I'm fairly pleased with the results! There are some things I liked better on the first, some better on the second, but all in all I'm happy with it:
You can bid on the finished, non-ink splotched sea horse on the Circle of Art website, or go to the event on May 18th from 12-5pm at Saline Picture Frame and bid on it in person! I'm also planning on doing more of these to sell on my Etsy shop, and will post a link where there up. There will be more Steampunk animals to come, as well!