A new illustration of the Northern Lights and an Arctic Fox. I tend to work pretty fast, but was one of those pieces that stayed in the studio for a while. It took a bit of work to get the sky looking right.
The Northern Lights remind me of Christmas, so the idea was always for this one to be a Christmas Card.
Northern Lights Christmas Cards
Northern Lights Print
Amazing sky! May I ask what is your technique for keeping the stars so crisply white while surrounded by all that wet watercolor? Stunning as usual, David, always love your work.
ReplyDeleteThanks! In this particular one they are done with white gouache on top of the watercolor. In the past, I have also used masking fluid to keep them white. I have also done them freehand before, but this results in a much more textured/layered sky - which can be interesting but wouldn't work here.
DeleteAre the stars splattered on top of the watercolour base? It looks like a great technique for me to try. As for painting the Northern Lights as beautifully as you have, well...that might take a few years of practice. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I used a white gouache for the stars in this one. You could also experiment with using masking fluid, which dries rubbery and repels the watercolor, then you peel it away afterward.
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