Number 8 in the 5th

\About the Painting:

Name:   Number 8 in the 5th 

Medium: Watercolor on 140# Arches 

Size:      5×7″

Here in Louisville, KY it’s Derby time!  The kick-off for the Derby Festival was last weekend with Thunder Over Louisville, the day-long aerial show along the Ohio River waterfront culminating with the world’s largest fireworks show at 9:30pm.  Even though the weather this year was less than ideal (chilly and overcast), it always draws a crowd.  Great fun for locals and visitors alike. 

I thought it would be appropriate to have a Derby themed painting.  This was actually painted similarly to a much larger painting (approx 22 x 28″) I finished a few weeks ago.  The subject was from a photo I took at Churchill Downs during Derby week two years ago.   Here is the larger original:Number 8 in the 5th 21x28\

It can be viewed, along with details, on my website at www.watercolordesigns.com

My process: I started painting the background first, to get the white lines running through the painting.  I then started glazing yellows and reds on the jockey, making sure I left light rim lighting along the upper edge.  I kept developing the red, going with brighter and darker reds to get depth.   I used Winsor Red, Scarlet Lake, Quinacridone Rose, Aliz. Crimson and added touches of blue in the shadow areas. I painted around the white straps of the jockey’s cap and the horses reins.  The horse was painted with New Gamboge, Quinacridone Burnt Scarlet and Ultramarine blue–I finished the lighter areas on the horse with Quinacridone Gold.

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