Whitaker: sketchbook and Reverie workshop

[William Whitaker]

Sid,

I must print out your words and post them on my studio wall! Thank you.

I'm currently using both flake white (my current favorite brand being Rublev - from www.naturalpigments.com) and a pure titanium white made by Old Holland.

For large sizes, I use flake white only. For my tiniest paintings, I can do them in half the time if I use titanium white only. I mix the paints together for other works, depending on the size.

Titanium white dries slowly. Flake White is a fast dryer.
Titanium white covers better, Flake white is less opaque.
The camera likes titanium white better, so I would recommend it for illustrators.
Flake White looks better in a painting on the gallery wall.

[bharat]

just.....awasome......! pls come on my stuff n crit it sir....!

[Davio]

Your work is inspirational, thank you so much Mr. Whitaker.

[alesoun]

Urgh! I recently started painting in oils again after a long gap, and I just can't get my edges as crisp as I'd like. Okay, it's not my only problem, but it's the one bothering me most right now. Any tips, please?

[William Whitaker]

Thanks folks. I always enjoy seeing your sketchbooks.
We cannot draw too much!

Now for answers: alesoun, my problem is usually that my edges aren't soft enough. Crispness seems to happen naturally. I guess the best way to achieve a chrisp edge is to paint a wet stroke onto a dry canvas.

Whether you want crisp or soft edges, remember the trick is brush control - primarily a soft touch. To give an extreme example, remember that a very light touch will leave paint behind - on top of - what you've previously been doing. A hard touch will dig a furrow in the paint.

[alesoun]

Thanks, Mr Whitaker. I think I understand what you mean, but I think I'll need to try/practise to find out if I really do. I'll try that. Thanks.

[Sally757]

All the sketches are very beautiful.And every sketch is showing its story.

[William Whitaker]

It's about time I write something.
I'm painting all the time, but I work in layers and I work on four to six paintings at once. Considerable time can pass without anything getting finished. However, I photographed two paintings today and thought I'd post them.

The paintings were shot using my daughter's Nikon D300. The RAW images were imported onto my computer using Adobe Lightroom 2 and then finished in Photoshop. I take all my photos in natural daylight. It was overcast today and the Nikon's overcast white point setting was so good I didn't have to adjust them very much on Lightroom.

This painting was done in 2007 and languished in a gallery. The dealer eventually sent it back to me and it's been on my studio wall. I took it up again a few days ago and made some painting adjustments - very minor ones.

I've grown fond of this 10 inch high painting, so I thought I'd share.

[William Whitaker]

Sally, Concept Art is a fabulous website. It is good for you to be here. Welcome.

This second painting is recent. It is yet another small one, measuring 8x10 inches. That's roughly 190 x 245mm for those of you who are using rational measuring devices.

I strive to make my work loose and somewhat transparent - like my personality.

[William Whitaker]

I've done this before, and I'll do it again. Here is a closeup of the head, much larger than actual size. I think most of us like to see closeups. I have made museum guards very nervous in the past. Now I introduce myself to the guard first, make friends, and avoid being scolded.

[JJacks]

Beautiful as always. I really love the warmth of the face in the 10in painting and the pearly skin tones of the most recent. I have a problem with that light of a skin tone myself. I always make chalky looking people. The closes I got to something nice was when I layered stuff. I don't paint anymore, but that always bothered me and I envy people that pull it off so nicely.

[thegrayslayer]

Beautiful paintings, really nice work.

~ Slayer

[TASmith]

Wow. Mr. Whitaker, what led you to choose these kinds of subjects? What do you want your artwork to say?

[Cacodaemonia]

Her skin does look translucent - almost radiant! If you ever have the chance, I'm sure others besides me would love to see a video of you working on a painting.

[Mischeviouslittleelf]

Hey William, I had no clue you were doing a sketchbook, glad I found this one. Good fun to look at your progress shots and what not, though I fin myself liking your sketch/unfinished material better than your polished pieces. This might well be due to my love for visable brush strokes, seeing as your finished stuff is usually smoothed down to a mirror shine.

This having been said, I do love your stuff, thanks for sharing it amigo.

-E

[polydrawer]

only just found this sketchbook and i must say
the quality of your work really is masterful

tnx so much for sharing

[William Whitaker]

JJacks, thank you. I think we do what we do because we are driven to it.
thegrayslayer, I thank you for your kind words.
TASmith, I'm not interested in narrative. I like greys and ellipses. We often do what we do for the most obscure reasons.
Cacodaemonia, I'd like to do a video and sometimes I think I have something to contribute, sometimes not.
I need to talk with Jason Manley about possibly doing an instruction video.
Mischeviouslittleelf, I like sketchy, but I also like the challenge of carrying something to high finish without making it look plastic. It is very hard to do and I often fall very short.
polydrawer, thank you. I will continue to add to it - if I ever finish any more work I feel would be useful to you.

[alesoun]

Thank you, Mr Whitaker. I tried the "wet on dry" advice, and I think I'm getting there. not instinctive yet (I'm too impatient), but I think I understand.

[Steffler]

What a pleasure it is to see you active on CA. I first heard about you through a lecture given by Ron Lemen recently. I googled you and made a mental note to revisit your work by sketching "Teddy".

Thanks for sharing answers!!
Cheers

[rakuda]

Beautiful work here! I'm glad I found such a source of inspiration. Very harmonious minimal palette.

Not much more I can say.

[Helltroll]

This is totally awesome to see. The forms, the colors, the shapes, the brushstrokes...
I am in awe.

What sort of colors do you typically use for skintones?

[Eric Young]

amazing paintings! You're like a living old master!

[manji]

William I can't thank you enough for your advice and posts. Thank you sir. Thank you.

[William Whitaker]

For those of you wanting to know more about my current flesh painting method, I added a posting in the fine arts section of Concept Art today. I got up early and painted a little torso study and took photos as I went along. By and by I realized I had to get to work on my own projects, so I stopped. I might later work on it again, after it dries for a few days. However, most of what I do is shown. I just don't take it to a high degree of finish.

[alexart]

Wonderful of precise and accurate!

[JS Neo]

I always like the quiet repose of your characters in your paintings. They seems to be thinking and contemplating something. The last two painting is gorgeous as usual. The only issue I have with the last painting is that the right hand seems odd. Maybe abit too big?

[sansan]

thank you very much Mr. Whitaker.i like your Painting Content ,just like another artist(zhaoming.WU)

[p sage]

WOW. I would definitely call you a master painter, and I've only seen a single painting (your latest one) by you. Holy hello.

And you're a fellow Utahn! ( Or Utard if you prefer )

I'll have to read your whole thread now, because your quality and craftmanship and artistry compels me!

Do you have a live gallery around town anywhere (assuming you're in SLC?) If so, I'll have to go see your stuff.

5 stars & subscription!

[Dorkthrone]

This sketchbook is amazing.

[Krato]

Mmm, you paint like a master.. i wonder why