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MJWilliam β Lady Sun
Published: 2012-03-14 03:15:29 +0000 UTC; Views: 5931; Favourites: 270; Downloads: 71
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Description
It's official, I've transitioned to watercolor!
It took me a while to accept the fact that oils are just too damn messy and too damn time-consuming. Maybe when my kids are off to college... For now, I've discovered Arches board, and I'm in love with it.Lady Sun was on my "to paint" list for quite a while (after Lady Valor [link] ). If you've no idea who she is, Lady Sun (or Sun Shangxiang) is a real historical figure, a noble woman in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. She received extensive martial arts training, and her female servants were always armed (which was out of the ordinary at the time). She's often depicted as a tomboy. She's also a recurring character in Chinese opera.
This was heavily influenced by traditional Asian textile designs. Watercolors with some inks and acrylics (for the highlights and background outlines). You have to go to the details to see this, but the houses in the background have some gold in them. About 13x18".
Details: [link]
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Comments: 113
those colors are just stunning o.o and how you put those shapes ( I fear "shapes" is not the correct english word, I mean "Formen" but...think youll get what I ment 
still the character doesnt do much for me - of course just personal taste and technicly it is still very well done as miiiight know ,) so nevermind, just my honest thinking ^^
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That's OK, can't please everyone. 
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Can't remember exactly, took about 2 weeks, 2-3 hours a day.
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OH OK COOL . Β SO U MAKE THESE ART FULL TIME Β OR DO THEM EVERY DAY??
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how often you get private commission work coming in a month?
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It's not steady. Sometimes a lot, sometimes not.
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HMMM I DO WANT TO USE WATER COLOR . I DUNNOΒ
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You have an outstanding gallery, but this drawing particularly caught my attention.
The colors are so vibrant and the mixture of the background similar to asian patterns and the lady is really well done. The details of the patterns are wonderful too, I love it.
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HOW COME U DO ALL THE TIME SAME SUBJECT? Β DO SOME SCI FI ,HORROR Β SURREAL Β U KNOW Β CHEANGE IT UP?
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Why should I do something I don't enjoy doing?
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OH OK FAIR ENOUGH. Β I DUNNO EVEN FOR ME I TRY TO DRAW SOMETING I DONT LIEK JUST TO TEST MYSELF Β IF I AM CAN DRAW OTHER THINGS . IF IM MORE COMPLETE ARTIST
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I know where you're coming from. I use my sketchbook for that. But as I do this for a living I also have to deliver what market demands.
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This is just breathtaking. You've painted so many details it's a pleasure to watch and see what all eyes can find. Story of the lady sun sounds very intresting also.
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OMG WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD!!!? This gives me the chills! I love how colourful it looks the vibrant colours. How did you do that? Can I achieve that with coloured pencils? Did you use references for the pattern on her dress?
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Thank you so much for the kind comments! I use Schmincke watercolors, which have very bright colors (pricey though). I have a large collection of pictures of traditional fabrics, which I use for reference, but I like to mix up the patterns.
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No problem!!!!
Thanks for letting me know ^^
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Again, your attention to detail is mind-blowing! 
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Thank you so much for the kind comments!
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Exquisite! Did you ever find your arches board "bowing inwards" at any time during painting? I began to use it recently and find that even when it's secured to the drawing board, the first few washes make it morph into a salsa chip. :/ would you know of any way to fix that?
Thank you and as always, masterful, clean and unique work!
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Thanks! Hmm, mine doesn't do that. Are you using cold or hot press? I've only used cold press. I also add very gentle washes, so that may be it.
A good trick I learned for oil painting is, bind your board to a same-size foamboard by the edges using acid-free artist's tape. That turns it into a really sturdy thick painting surface.
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It's hotpress...and I think too much water was the problem...taped the heck out of it onto foamboard, so I'll see if that makes it better! Thanks!
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You're welcome! And good luck!
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Whoa! This is watercolour? It is so neat and bright, that is really well done! It is so beautiful and detailed!
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Thanks! It actually has some inks in it (the outlines and the house roofs in the back).
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