Urko

A late start today, not been for my walk yet, thinking ahead to the England game and a bit obsessive about not wanting a day away from reading while mid novel. So I went for one of my quicker painting styles today and did another crystalline watercolour portrait. Today’s subject was Urko, a gorilla from the Planet Of The Apes TV series, played by Mark Lenard.

The process was exactly the same as usual: a three value plan using the Notanizer app, pencil outlines using a grid, masking fluid over the highlights, crystals in the dark areas wet with a brush, crystals in the medium tones sprayed generously with water, all the excess water removed by pressing down hard with kitchen paper, looking at the result and wondering what the hell I’ve done, removing masking fluid, being shocked at the result.

And this definitely worked today. From a distance, Urko’s instantly recognisable. The highlights on the face are just right and there’s a questioning look in the eyes that brings things to life. Close up, it’s a complete mess but that’s what’s so great about these crystalline watercolour paintings. Urko is up for sale, with the price to be found here.

Looking forwards, two ideas are formulating:

• Do I want to create a Planet Of The Apes TV series series by painting Doctor Zaius (an orang utan) at some point? And after painting Urko in crystalline watercolour and Galen in Artgraf, do I need to use third medium? It would presumably need to be another loose, uncontrolled, unpredictable medium.
• For next year’s selfie and PAOTY application, do I throw everything into crystalline watercolours? I was thinking going with the posterised trippy scheme but am starting to have second thoughts.

Lots to think about on my walk today.